Chinese chest. Qing Dynasty, 19th century.

Chinese chest. Qing Dynasty, 19th century.
Hand painted elm wood.
With certificate of authenticity.
Measurements: 4 x 59 x 71 cm.

Chinese elm wood trunk. Its measurements suggest a domestic use, probably to store textiles, documents or small valuables. On the front there is a mythological figure hand painted with vegetable pigments, attenuated by time but still vivid. A hybrid figure of protective character is distinguished, combining features of the tiger (brindle body, paws extended in tension) with attributes of a dragon or Fu's dog with a fierce expression. This iconography is characteristic of the Chinese imaginary, where the tiger symbolizes strength, courage and earthly power, while the dragon and Fu lions are guardians of the sacred and prosperous. The creature is arranged in a frontal-dynamic position, as if emerging towards the viewer, giving the trunk an apotropaic function: to protect its contents from misfortune and evil spirits.