Camphorwood chest

A camphor wood chest used on sailing boats in the coastal areas of Southern China. As space was limited this was used instead of a cabinet on board the junks and sampans plying the trading and fishing routes. These chests have a wonderful fragrance when opened. They protect clothes from moths and humidity, invaluable when at sea. The decoration on them tells something of their previous owners. This heavily carved piece would have been given as a wedding present as it is decorated with the dragon and phoenix design. The carving is excellent and pieces of such good quality are now becoming scarce. It dates from 1850-1960