Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Red & Black Lacquer Bamboo Rattan Nested Picnic Wedding Baskets - a Pair

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An impressive pair of antique Chinese two tiered hexagon shaped wedding basket or box. Made of lacquered bamboo and rattan. … Read more An impressive pair of antique Chinese two tiered hexagon shaped wedding basket or box. Made of lacquered bamboo and rattan. Hand painted in red and black with green accents.

Written cursive script translates to poems about "picking mulberry leaves" and "the dangerous and difficult road when traveling through mountains". Also mentioned "Bailu" (15th solar term in the traditional Chinese calendars, around September), "Huangmei" (rainy season, in the Middle And Lower Reaches Of The Yangtze River), which could indicate this basket is probably made in the region near middle or lower part of Yangtze river.

The orange marks on bottom 五对/伍对 both translate to Wu Dui, who we assume was the artist / maker.

Festive red stacking lacquer boxes are used for carrying food during the wedding procession of the bride. Usually there are two sets of boxes to balance each on the end of the pole. The top box serves as a lid for the bottom box and has a lid of its own. All are beautifully painted in red for good luck.

The tradition of Chinese wedding boxes goes back 1,000 years. Before the ceremony, the bride’s family would conspicuously display the boxes. Before the Yuan Dynasty, the wooden boxes were painted and decorated with lacquer. After 1279, the boxes were often painted leather. As time passed, the boxes became increasingly more ornate. See less