Antique Painted Chinese Trunk In Pine Wood – China, Circa 1900
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Damage is rare, and you're fully protected if it happens.
Dimensions
Wear Condition
Good
Material
Pine
Style
Antique, Oriental, Traditional, Chinese Antiques
Product Details
Description
Antique painted Chinese trunk in pine wood, provincial painted furniture with polychrome composition originating from Inner Mongolia and dated circa 1900. Originates from Inner Mongolia, in northern China, from the late 19th century, where local pine was worked using mortise-and-tenon joinery without nails, with fronts painted in polychrome compositions.
In the Mongol homes of northern China, painted trunks were central pieces of the wedding trousseau and the family treasury: they held textiles, clothing and personal objects, and fulfilled both a symbolic and a decorative function. The density of the pictorial decoration on the front matched the social role of the piece within the home, equivalent to that of large lacquered furniture in other regional traditions.
Built in solid pine using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, without nails. Rectangular case with a hinged lid and forged iron front fittings allowing closure with a padlock. The front concentrates all the pictorial decoration; the sides and lid retain the pine tone with traces of pigment.
The front articulates a central painted panel over a turquoise ground with a peacock spreading its tail among large open peonies (mudan 牡丹, emblem of wealth and honour) in deep red and pink tones. The lateral panels and borders integrate secondary flowers and rosettes over an ochre ground. The palette — turquoise, red, pink, green, ochre — is characteristic of popular painting from northern China in the late Qing period.
The patina retains the original pigments with a matte sheen and an irregular surface. The painting on the front shows soft losses and craquelure proper to natural ageing; the sides and lid show broad abrasions in contact areas. The structure remains solid, the original fittings in place.
It fits naturally in eclectic, wabi-sabi or contemporary rustic interiors. It works as a low coffee table, a storage piece at the foot of a bed or an autonomous decorative piece in an entrance. The density of the pictorial composition turns it into a visual focus within a sober space.
Details
Dimensions: Length 87 cm – Width 54.5 cm – Height 55 cm
Style: Painted provincial furniture from Inner Mongolia
Materials and techniques: Solid pine, pigments on wood, forged iron hardware; mortise-and-tenon joinery without nails, painted front with peacock among peonies over turquoise ground
Place of origin: Inner Mongolia, China
Period: Late Qing dynasty (circa 1900)
Date of manufacture: Circa 1900
Condition / Notes: Sound structure. Original paint with soft losses and craquelure. Original fittings. Wear consistent with age and use.
Condition report:
Sound structure. Original paint with soft losses and craquelure. Original fittings. Wear consistent with age and use.
Wear Condition
Good
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Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Additional Delivery Info from Seller
Estimated delivery time
One to two weeks
Free collection available
Yes
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Reviews
5.0
Based on 6 reviews
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 12/02/2026
Clear, predictable protection for every pre-loved purchase.
Simple £75 flat return fee for UK-to-UK mainland furniture when you change your mind.
Applies to furniture with a final selling price of up to £5,000 (excluding delivery and service fees) and delivered from a UK mainland seller to mainland UK addresses. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
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A. The item isn't as described (free return)
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B. You changed your mind
UK-to-UK furniture deliveries:
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Most smaller items are straightforward to return.
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The seller will confirm the best option based on the item.
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Damage on arrival is uncommon, especially for UK furniture deliveries.
But if something does go wrong, you're fully protected.
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Your statutory rights apply for up to 30 days from delivery.
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6. What happens next
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- Pickup or return method is arranged
- The item is returned to the seller
- We issue your refund once the seller confirms the item's condition
Returns are completed smoothly once the pickup is arranged.
7. Refunds
Once the seller receives the piece back in the same condition it was sent, we'll issue your refund to your original payment method.
Once a refund is issued, it may take up to 5–10 working days for the funds to appear back on your original payment method, depending on your bank or card provider.
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What your service fee covers
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14-day return guarantee
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Flat-fee return shipping on UK furniture
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Seller vetting
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Dedicated customer support
| Order Value (£) | Fee (£) |
|---|---|
| 0 — 49.99 | 2.75 |
| 50 — 99.99 | 5.50 |
| 100 — 199.99 | 11.00 |
| 200 — 399.99 | 21.00 |
| 400 — 599.99 | 30.00 |
| 600 — 799.99 | 40.00 |
| 800 — 999.99 | 50.00 |
| 1,000 — 1,499.99 | 55.00 |
| 1,500 — 1,999.99 | 60.00 |
| 2,000 — 4,999.99 | 82.50 |
| 5,000+ | 110.00 |
Added at checkout, based on your basket total.