19th Century Large Antique Hongmu (Rosewood) Dragon Panel Box – Repurposed into Umbrella Stand / Planter Stand

$1,600.00
This extraordinary piece is fashioned from Hongmu wood (a type of Rosewood sourced in Guangdong), one of the rarest and most highly prized materials in Chinese furniture-making. Huanghuali is famed for its near-black with reddish highlights, lustrous density and was historically the premier wood of Ming dynasty furniture and remains the most collectible today. Its weight and fine-grained texture are immediately recognizable, marking this as a work of substance and distinction. Dimensions: 10" H x 12" W x 26" L The carved panels showcase a coiled dragon in high relief, surrounded by swirling clouds and flames—a motif symbolizing power, protection, and auspicious authority. The depth of carving, with undercut tendrils of vapor and scales worked in minute detail, reflects the artistry found in the grandest Qing-era furniture and architectural screens. Recovered in England, this fragment of historic hunaghuali furniture was later adapted into a rectangular box form, possibly intended as an umbrella stand or planter base. Measuring 26" in length, it has commanding presence in any setting, equally suited as a statement decorative piece or a functional accent in a refined interior. Because huanghuali trees were slow-growing and virtually exhausted by the 18th–19th centuries, large carvings in this material are exceptionally rare. To own such a piece is to possess not only a functional object but also a fragment of imperial Chinese craftsmanship and symbolism—adapted for continued appreciation today. Details: Material: Huanghuali wood (extremely dense and heavy) Motif: Dragon among clouds and flames Dimensions: 10" high x 12" wide x 26" long Origin: China, Qing dynasty or earlier; later repurposed in England A rare opportunity for collectors of Asian antiques or those who seek unique, conversation-starting works that bridge historic tradition with modern adaptability. Check out some of my other antiques: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=6783279 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
This extraordinary piece is fashioned from Hongmu wood (a type of Rosewood sourced in Guangdong), one of the rarest and most highly prized materials in Chinese furniture-making. Huanghuali is famed for its near-black with reddish highlights, lustrous density and was historically the premier wood of Ming dynasty furniture and remains the most collectible today. Its weight and fine-grained texture are immediately recognizable, marking this as a work of substance and distinction. Dimensions: 10" H x 12" W x 26" L The carved panels showcase a coiled dragon in high relief, surrounded by swirling clouds and flames—a motif symbolizing power, protection, and auspicious authority. The depth of carving, with undercut tendrils of vapor and scales worked in minute detail, reflects the artistry found in the grandest Qing-era furniture and architectural screens. Recovered in England, this fragment of historic hunaghuali furniture was later adapted into a rectangular box form, possibly intended as an umbrella stand or planter base. Measuring 26" in length, it has commanding presence in any setting, equally suited as a statement decorative piece or a functional accent in a refined interior. Because huanghuali trees were slow-growing and virtually exhausted by the 18th–19th centuries, large carvings in this material are exceptionally rare. To own such a piece is to possess not only a functional object but also a fragment of imperial Chinese craftsmanship and symbolism—adapted for continued appreciation today. Details: Material: Huanghuali wood (extremely dense and heavy) Motif: Dragon among clouds and flames Dimensions: 10" high x 12" wide x 26" long Origin: China, Qing dynasty or earlier; later repurposed in England A rare opportunity for collectors of Asian antiques or those who seek unique, conversation-starting works that bridge historic tradition with modern adaptability. Check out some of my other antiques: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=6783279 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP