Christopher Tombs Antiques Ltd has dated this Antique Chinese Wooden Shrine to the 18th Century.
It is from the Qing dynasty period (consistent with an 18th-century attribution), made of a light-to-medium hardwood that has developed a soft, aged patina with visible wear, tool marks, and a natural unfinished or lightly waxed surface.
Roof
The most striking feature is the sweeping, multi-layered roof in classic Chinese architectural style. It is constructed with rows of curved wooden “tiles” or bamboo-like strips that create a realistic ridged surface. The roof has gently upturned eaves at the corners and a central ridge line crowned by three decorative finials (two at the ends and a taller one in the middle). The overall silhouette is elegant and slightly weathered, giving it an authentic, timeworn character.
Front elevation
The façade is divided into three bays, framed by vertical posts:
Central bay: A pair of hinged doors. The upper panels feature dense openwork (lattice) carving in a geometric pattern of interlocking diamonds or stars, while the lower solid panels are carved in low relief with cloud-scroll or ruyi-like motifs. A simple metal latch or hasp is visible between the doors.
Side bays: Matching single doors or fixed panels with the same combination of upper latticework and lower solid carved panels. The lattice designs are consistent across all three sections, creating visual rhythm.
Above the doors runs a continuous frieze of open work carving with scrolling foliage or cloud patterns, adding delicacy and lightness beneath the heavy roof.
Base and porch
The structure sits on a raised platform with a slightly projecting front edge. On the left and right sides of the lower section are low wooden balustrades (railings) with simple vertical and horizontal bars, giving the impression of a small open porch or gallery. The base itself has a soft, undulating lower apron that softens the silhouette.
The piece is clearly intended as a domestic or temple shrine—possibly for ancestral tablets, Buddhist or Taoist figures, or as a decorative architectural model. Its proportions, the quality of the lattice and relief carving, and the architectural roof all point to skilled traditional joinery and carving techniques typical of high-quality Chinese furniture of the period.
It is a handsome, atmospheric example of Qing-dynasty shrine furniture that successfully translates monumental Chinese architecture into a refined domestic scale
We welcome all in inquires on this piece and any questions that you may have.
Plenty more images available upon request.
Delivery within the UK is included in the asking Price.
Shipping to you in any part of the World is also a pleasure so please do contact us for a quote.
Many thanks for looking.
Chris.
Christopher Tombs Antiques Ltd has dated this Antique Chinese Wooden Shrine to the 18th Century.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Christopher Tombs Antiques Ltd Profile Page
18th Century Chinese Shrine.
