Sunday, January 15, 2017

Chinese Wood Carving Panels

Chinese wood carving or wall panels were typically made of lacquered and decorated wood, and functioned mostly as decoration, but also as a room divider like the Chinese standing screen. Lacquered wood panels were the original style of screen creation.

During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese lacquered wood panels and dividers were created in masses due to a high demand for this type of furniture in overseas. Emperor Qianlong (1735-1796) also commissioned beautiful lacquered furniture like wall panels and dividers to fill his palaces. The Chinese made smaller paneled works to be hung for display, and were not meant to be moved around frequently.


Panels 1

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Panels 2

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Sunday, January 1, 2017

Kraton Belt Buckles From Central Java Indonesia

Pictures below showing the antique set of belt buckles and slide for formal dress, set with hand-cut faceted clear stones. The stones are likely to be low grade Borneo diamonds.

These types of buckles were after the European style and they are associated with the 19th century kratons (courts) of central Java, particularly Surakarta (Solo). They were part of court dress for male courtiers and members of the nobility known as the Priyayi.

They were worn on a velvet belt over an embroidered black velvet jacket and elegant sarong with designs reserved for the nobility.

Nowadays these buckles are still worn on formal occasions, or with beautiful Javanese dance costumes.


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Set of belt buckle and slide.



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Incomplete belt buckle without the slide.



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