Ancestor Painting, Grandfather Official in Scarlet Wardrobe along with the circular door

along with the circular door hardware and brass handles

Drawers were quite rare in early Chinese cabinets so this piece is a more contemporary version of a classic Ming design

They include a simple hand painted design showing tree branches in a brown glaze

either grouped with others in our range or can be used to hold a tealight for atmospheric outdoor lighting

and each one shows the age and patina associated with years of use

Ancestor Painting, Grandfather Official in Scarlet Wardrobe along with the circular doorAncestor portraits like this one formed an important part of the Chinese practice of ancestor worship. The family had a duty to honour and commemorate their ancestors, with rituals and offerings being an important part of this. Portraits were usually near life size and painted from a front perspective, with the subjects usually seated and wearing robes to show the insignia of their rank. Original ancestor paintings are now rare and highly sought