Chinese Opera box what's going on with it?

Discussion in 'Furniture' started by Gatoblanconz, Jan 24, 2026 at 2:55 AM.

  1. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    Hi just wondering if you can help me work out what the story is with this opera box.
    The sides appear to be painted a different color but it's possible that that was done originally maybe? The wear at the interface of the sides the top and the front (the edges) rolls around. If the sides were switched out, they were replaced a long time ago.
    The hinges seem to have been replaced. And the repairs on the inside the metal plates don't seem that old.

    I considered whether this could be a reproduction that is deliberately aged but I'm not sure. The wear seems pretty comprehensive particularly on the front.

    It's quite a light timber. The whole thing is not heavy

    To clean it up I was thinking of putting some Chinese ink all over the sides and top to just kind of tie it in together. Then coating the whole lot in beeswax.
     
  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    photo's not coming thru..............
     
    Any Jewelry and Gatoblanconz like this.
  3. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    Photos first set

    c1_20260124_18425972.jpeg c1_20260124_18430009.jpeg c1_20260124_18430023.jpeg c1_20260124_18430067.jpeg c1_20260124_18430034.jpeg c1_20260124_18430044.jpeg c1_20260124_18430055.jpeg c1_20260124_18430067.jpeg c1_20260124_18430080.jpeg c1_20260124_18430098.jpeg
     
    Boland likes this.
  4. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    Second set of photos
    c1_20260124_18430134.jpeg c1_20260124_18430115.jpeg c1_20260124_18430156.jpeg c1_20260124_18430197.jpeg c1_20260124_18545323.jpeg c1_20260124_18545340.jpeg c1_20260124_18545354.jpeg c1_20260124_18545367.jpeg c1_20260124_18545377.jpeg c1_20260124_18545393.jpeg
     
    Boland and Any Jewelry like this.
  5. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    And the other thing about it is when you photograph it up close the camera picks up the colors and lightens it and it looks quite stunning but these photos in this particular post right here is what it looks like ordinarily. It just kind of looks dark and beat up lol
    c1_20260124_19121592.jpeg c1_20260124_19121608.jpeg
     
    Boland and Any Jewelry like this.
  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    & it is beat up....but it's nice and looks as though someone wanted it to continue living for a while longer..! :playful:
     
    Boland, sabre123 and Gatoblanconz like this.
  7. Gatoblanconz

    Gatoblanconz Well-Known Member

    What do you think about my proposal to stain the top and sides to try to make it look less rough. I won't touch the front
     
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I would advise against using beeswax on East Asian lacquer. Museums have bad experiences with beeswax causing metal corrosion on lacquer (Asian black lacquer contains iron) and 'blooming' of beeswax.
    I would use a microcrystalline wax such as Renaissance wax.
    I would leave it as is, just coat it gently with microcrystalline wax.
    If the top and sides bother you, a nice embroidered silk cloth can cover those.
     
  9. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I'd leave bad enough alone. I don't know enough about proper wax to weigh in, but usually with old stuff like this, the best option is to dust it off and keep it out of direct sunlight.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Chinese Opera
Forum Title Date
Furniture Little Chinese late Qing wooden box Apr 4, 2025
Furniture Unusual Chinese camphor chest Mar 20, 2025
Furniture Age of Chinese wood carvings Oct 19, 2024
Furniture Chinese Ox Blood Cabinet Jun 13, 2024
Furniture Help with identifying this Chinese piece please Apr 28, 2024

Share This Page