Pair of Red Lacquer Carved Panels

These long red lacquer panels are decorated with turned baluster posts and fanciful carvings of flowering plants and scholars' objects, set within a vertical rectangular frame. Dated to the late 19th century, the panels may have originally been an architectural element or part of a Chinese canopy bed. The central panels are carved with a scrolled collector's shelves stacked with books and vases bearing floral arrangements. The surrounding carvings depict plants symbolizing longevity, including chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, pine trees, and bamboo. Finished with a layer of richly-aged red lacquer, the vertical panels bring bright color to the home as storied wall-mounted sculptures.