Chinese Metal Frame, S. XIX

Antique Chinese silver plated metal frame (probably copper) made in the late 19th century. This piece is beautifully decorated with embossed dragons and Chinese ideograms. The whole is crowner by an image which reminds us classical oriental temples lintels; this detail provides the frame with a distinguished and majestic look. The piece shows an antique photograph, a portrait of two German soldiers in the I World War posing for the camera. The frame is in good condition though the time has left its trace on it; the patina of the years does nothing but to embellish the metal finish, providing it with a noble and antique style.The embossed motives that adorn the frame are highly attractive and performed in detail. They depict a two-column structure which supports a lintel. The columns are on both sides of the frame and the lintel decorates the upper part. Two imperial dragons are coiling up the columns, with their scaly bodies squirming around the architectonical elements. The dragon on the left attracts out attention because of its big head, surely the focal point of the frame. The dragons occupy almost the whole surface together with the columns and the lintel, in a singular and nice example of horror vacui.The columns bases are curiously decorated with a scaly pattern, similar to the dragons bodies. Differently, the rest of the architectural structure is regularly flat. At the top of the frame, just over the lintel and in the center of the piece, we can see a square shape containing two Chinese ideograms. The upper one means sun and we do not know the meaning of the other. The framed picture is a vintage photograph of two circumspect German soldiers in the I World War, posing for the camera; one is sitting down and the other is standing up.This frames ancient age and beautiful decoration turn it into a unique piece, fit to become part of an exclusive collection of decorative oriental antiques.Measurements: Width: 145 mm. Height: 195 mm.