Chinese, c.1800, the fine Regency double fronted chest painted in the Chinese style on a black background, to open the chest a two pronged iron pin at the back releases the upper part of the chest to allow the doors to open, the black background is painted inside the lid and on the upper part of the doors and body of chest with scenes of red flowers and palm trees, on the front doors are scenes of Chinese life - a pagoda on the right door with two figures conversing, on the left door are two seated figures one smoking, the rest of

the doors are decorated with flowers (possibly lotus), on each side of the chest are similar flowers, the doors open to reveal three rows for five bottles in the body of the chest above two drawers. Similarly in each door are divisions for nine bottles set above two drawers, each row of bottles in the body and the doors is retained with a gilded fret of acanthus leaves held by a pin and drop down to release the bottles, in the middle part of these frets in the body of the chest is a small plaque of solid wood decorated with red flowers - the same flowers are also seen on the drawer ends in the body and in the doors, the bottles (25 of 33) are hand blown with pontil marks and are ground flat on all sides, the chest is on four round button feet, height 44cm , width 38cm

Provenance: purchased by the vendor at Christies, lot 13, 16 Nov 1995