Delicate Gilded Chinese Carving. Years 50-60 of XX Century.

Beautiful Chinese decorative plate made of hand-carved solid wood, decorated with golden paint. This piece was very likely made in the 1950s or 1960s. It is of rectangular shape and comes in a black and golden frame and a smart red velvet passé-partout, which highlights the beauty of the plate. The craftwork is really magnificent, with deep cuts performed in the wood with high skill; the lattices are almost as slim as a hair or a wire. The carving shows a deep relief which almost turn the figures, the building and the trees into sculptures. The figures faces are happy and expressive, and they form a peaceful and relaxing scene. The plate shows seven figures interacting in a small traditional Chinese building, a two-story wooden structure with the shape of a pagoda, full of lattices and surrounded by trees. The building has two floors, and on the right we can see a tree with big long leaves. In the upper floor, two female figures are leaning to watch a man who is walking on the ground, and who is going towards another group of women: a smaller one (maybe a kid or a servant) and another one who is carrying a fan. On the left, another man is standing on a stair with an open fan; this man seems to be calling the women located on the upper floor of the building. The whole scene shows a relaxed atmosphere, with the figures dancing or evolving in a happy and fluid way. The carving shows a deep relieve, and some details such as the trees leaves, the vine on the right, the waves and folds of the figures traditional clothes and the delicate expressiveness of the faces stand out from the rest. Above all, the lattices of the architecture are especially remarkable: filigrees which can be considered real works of art and remain in perfect condition. The golden paint that covers all the plate is also well preserved, with no signs of wear and with an attractive patina which provides a very special charm. All these features turn this carving into a first-class work of Chinese art whose excellent craft goes together with its traditional beauty, and which can be the best acquisition to decorate a room or corner meant to exhibit a collection of Eastern art and antiques. Measurements (with frame and passé-partout): 336 mm width x 420 mm height.