A set of large bench and four armchairs

Description:

China, Republic period
107,5 x 242,5 x ca. 72 cm / je 107,5 x 91 x ca. 72 cm
All pieces of massive form, with finely carved relief decoration of auspicious symbols such as bats, 'shou' characters, twin fish a.o.. The backrests of the chairs partly carved in openwork with decoration of pendants and relief decoration of boys playing in a garden, topped with a wide panel, in the centre two qilin in low relief, the ends with elephant heads, holding peaches with their trunks. The backrests are flanked by slightly curved continuations of the armrests with 'shou' characters. The armrests also carved in openwork with meandering patterns, below the seat a border of lotus leaves. The backrest of the bench in the shape of three chair backrests, otherwise identical in decoration.
From a European private collection - Partly very slightly chipped, minor traces of age and use