Furniture
  • Green painted military chest with reclaimed Rajasthani & Gujarati antique furniture

    Shop Our Recent Shipment Of Antique Indian Furniture

  • Home Decor
  • About Us
  • Carved Teak Triple Arch From Maharashtra - Late 19thC | Indigo Antiques
  • Shop By Origin
  • Antique Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet With Gilt Birds
  • Autumn Style & Crab Apples Reproduction Chinese Blue & White WIne Jar Vase - Cherry Tree Design | Indigo Antiques
  • A dramatic painted Indian Damchiya dowry chest  with beautifully painted Indian mirrors and lota.
  • Antique Indian Dungapur Seapoy Window Shutters with a Rajasthani 18th century casket | Indigo Antiques
  • Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century

    Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century

    Roll over image to zoom in

    Roll over image to zoom in

    Trade & Wholesale

    Our origins are in wholesale, so from movies to restaurants, retailers to architects, we have a long history of supplying our trade clients with unusual and unique oriental furniture & decorative art. 

    Whether purchasing for resale or buying on behalf of a client, we offer trade discount pricing to:


  • Retail Stores
  • Interior Designers
  • Film & Photo Studios
  • Architects
  • Event Producers

  • For all trade and wholesale enquiries please email us with your contact and business name, company registration number & VAT number (if applicable) to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Prop Hire

    Looking for that one off iconic piece for an event or requiring props for a filming or a photography shoot? You will have seen our oriental antique furniture & decorative art in the James Bond films, The Golden Compass and many others.


    For all prop hire enquiries please send emails to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Painted Opera Chest From Shanxi - 19th Century

    SKU:C1963

    £845

    This old painted Chinese trunk is known as an Opera Chest. It would be more accurate to call it a dowry chest due to the lack of any operatic scene on this chest. This style of Chinese chest is found exclusively in Shanxi Province in Northern China and dates from the late 19th century.

     

    Chests of this style are constructed from paulownia wood (tong mu / 桐木) Paulownia trees were often planted at the birth of a daughter and were considered symbols of prosperity, fertility & marital bliss. Upon reaching maturity the tree would be crafted into furniture and given as part of a bride's dowry symbolising hope for a prosperous & enduring marriage. 

     

    Whilst most chests of this style are decorated with operatic scenes, this one is instead decorated with floral and bird scenes, framed by windowed scenes of elders in traditional Chinese clothing.   

     

    There is an undoubted fallacy surrounding opera chests which are often said to have been used by the traveling Shanxi Opera for carrying clothes and props. This is almost certainly untrue and an assumption by Western dealers inspired by the painted opera scenes that decorate the majority of this style of chest. 

     

    Like all our pieces, it has been sympathetically restored showing signs of wear and the marks of age.

     

    From China

    UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £40
    More delivery options available at checkout

    Dimensions: W85 x D53 x H65 cm


    £845
    0
    0

    Free UK Delivery on orders over £250 

    Use code 'Delivery' at checkout

    In Stock - In Our Wiltshire Showroom

    Dimensions: W85 x D53 x H65 cm


    Free UK Delivery on orders over £250 

    Use code 'Delivery' at checkout*

    In Stock - In Our Wiltshire Showroom

    Shipping & Warranty

    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    *Free delivery cannot be combined with other offers

    This old painted Chinese trunk is known as an Opera Chest. It would be more accurate to call it a dowry chest due to the lack of any operatic scene on this chest. This style of Chinese chest is found exclusively in Shanxi Province in Northern China and dates from the late 19th century.

     

    Chests of this style are constructed from paulownia wood (tong mu / 桐木) Paulownia trees were often planted at the birth of a daughter and were considered symbols of prosperity, fertility & marital bliss. Upon reaching maturity the tree would be crafted into furniture and given as part of a bride's dowry symbolising hope for a prosperous & enduring marriage. 

     

    Whilst most chests of this style are decorated with operatic scenes, this one is instead decorated with floral and bird scenes, framed by windowed scenes of elders in traditional Chinese clothing.   

     

    There is an undoubted fallacy surrounding opera chests which are often said to have been used by the traveling Shanxi Opera for carrying clothes and props. This is almost certainly untrue and an assumption by Western dealers inspired by the painted opera scenes that decorate the majority of this style of chest. 

     

    Like all our pieces, it has been sympathetically restored showing signs of wear and the marks of age.

     

    From China

    UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £40
    More delivery options available at checkout


    Shipping & Warranty

    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    *Free delivery cannot be combined with other offers

    Trade & Wholesale

    Our origins are in wholesale, so from movies to restaurants, retailers to architects, we have a long history of supplying our trade clients with unusual and unique oriental furniture & decorative art. 

    Whether purchasing for resale or buying on behalf of a client, we offer trade discount pricing to:


  • Retail Stores
  • Interior Designers
  • Film & Photo Studios
  • Architects
  • Event Producers

  • For all trade and wholesale enquiries please email us with your contact and business name, company registration number & VAT number (if applicable) to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Prop Hire

    Looking for that one off iconic piece for an event or requiring props for a filming or a photography shoot? You will have seen our oriental antique furniture & decorative art in the James Bond films, The Golden Compass and many others.


    For all prop hire enquiries please send emails to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    People Also Viewed

    DISPATCH

    • - Non-furniture Delivery: 2-5 working days

    • - Furniture Delivery: Within 1 - 2 weeks

      (We'll call you to arrange a specific delivery date)

    • Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £250 | Use code "DELIVERY" at checkout

    RETURNS

    • - Hassle Free Returns

    • - Return your order within 28 days for a full refund (excluding delivery charges)

    • - Items must be returned in a resalable condition

    • - Collections can be arranged on request

    • Product Specific delivery charges visible above "Add to Basket" button and in Checkout (scroll up)

    • Additional charges may apply for deliveries to highlands, islands, out of area deliveries and collections. 

    • International Delivery: Please contact us for quotes on individual pieces

    Shipping & Warranty


    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    *Free delivery cannot be combined with other offers

    DISPATCH

    • - Non-furniture Delivery: 2-5 working days

    • - Furniture Delivery: Within 1 - 2 weeks

      (We'll call you to arrange a specific delivery date)

    DELIVERY

    • - Small items: £7.50

    • - Medium Sized items: £15

    • - Fragile Medium items: £20

    • - Small Furniture items: £40

    • - Furniture & Large Items: £80

    RETURNS

    • - Hassle Free Returns within 28 days for a full refund (excluding delivery charges)

    • - If you are not happy with your order, send it back with our delivery drivers. 

    • - Items must be returned in a resalable condition

    • - Collections can be arranged on request

    • Product Specific delivery charges visible above "Add to Basket" button and in Checkout (scroll up)

    • Additional charges may apply for deliveries to highlands, islands, out of area deliveries and collections. 

    • International Delivery: Please contact us for quotes on individual pieces at enquiries@indigo-uk.com, Livechat or calling +44 1672 564722

    Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £250 | Use code "DELIVERY" at checkout

    • GUARANTEED AUTHENTICITY ON ALL ANTIQUE PIECES

    • 100% SAFE AND SECURE CHECKOUT WITH SHOPIFY

    • FREE NO QUIBBLE RETURNS

    Notify me when this or a similar product is available.