Vintage Handmade Sino-Tibetan Carved Wood Dresser Box

A vintage hand-carved and hand painted wood box made in either China or Tibet with a lifting lid and sliding drawer.

 

The top of the rectangular box is surrounded on three sides by vertical pieces that not only keep items you might leave on the top from falling off, but also serves as a back rest for the lid when it’s opened. The shorter sides of the surround are hand carved with prunus blossoms. The back is hand carved with an insignia composed of two wings tied together by a ribbon. The lid is painted with two large flower blossoms framed by a red border. The front of the box has a carved floral panel topped with a narrow border.  

 

The lid on the top opens to reveal a hold. On one side is a drawer that pulls out. The handles on the drawer and the lid are made from thin brass that have been treated with a patina. The dovetails used to join the pieces of wood are irregular and hand-cut.

 

The box is made from a lightweight wood that has been stained a chestnut color

 

 

10 1/8” (25.7 cm) wide x 6” (15.2 cm) deep x 5 ½” (14.0 cm) tall. Weighs 1 lb 9.4 oz (720 g)

 

 

The top of back of the surround behind the lid is irregular from a piece of wood splitting before it was finished. The rough surface is varnished over. Otherwise, there are no cracks or breaks. The black painted designs on the top show wear.  

 

A very nice and useful box. It’d be great to store little items on a dresser or desk. It would also be used as a jewelry box.