Pair of Carved Officials Hat Chairs From Shanxi - Late 19th Century Clothes Materials: Hand-carved solid wood

Materials: Hand-carved solid wood

these boxes were passed down through the family with each generation in the Thar desert area of West Rajasthan and were used as dowry chests

The traditional name for these Indian chests is 'majus' - they are found mostly in Rajasthan & Gujarat in North India

purity and good fortune in Chinese and Tibetan art

but the finish has been stripped back to show the natural colour of the chunky pine wood and the detail of the geometric carvings

Pair of Carved Officials Hat Chairs From Shanxi - Late 19th Century Clothes Materials: Hand-carved solid woodThese antique Chinese chairs are usually known as officials hat chairs because the shape of the back was reminiscent of an officials hat. They are sometimes also called high yoke back chairs and were one of the earliest styles of Chinese chairs to emerge. They were often made in pairs for a husband and wife. The back is the most important element of these chairs and this depicts a qilin, a symbol of luck, prosperity & wisdom. The arm supports are wavy