Antique Chinese Document Chest

This unique chest from Shanxi province dates from around the end of the Qing dynasty and was traditionally used to store valuable items or documents. It comes with its own stand and has kept its original finish. The red Chinese characters on the front represent the contents that the chest once held. The left strip mentions white jade and jade beads, while the right describes the impressive gold lock once used to secure the chest. In the centre, a circular motif displays various valuable items, possibly once stored inside. A hinged half board on the top opens to reveal the inside, secured by a simple brass clasp that would have been locked with the gold lock. The old black lacquer finish remains intact, although slightly worn on the top due to the elm wood.