Chinese carved camphor wood hope trunk, with raised decoration of figures, ships, and animals. From the Wings On Company, Hong Kong.

Size: 40 x 20 x 24 in.

#5591

Camphora officinarum is a species of evergreen tree indigenous to warm temperate to subtropical regions of East Asia, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. The production and shipment of camphor in a solid, waxy form was a major industry in Taiwan prior to and during the Japanese colonial era (1895–1945). It was used medicinally and was also an important ingredient in the production of smokeless gunpowder and celluloid. The wood itself is known to have an insect-repellent quality, which has made it historically beloved for crafting for centuries, retaining its features far longer than other species when exposed to the elements. A hope chest or trunk, also called a dowry, cedar, or trousseau chest, is a piece of furniture once commonly used by unmarried young women to collect items, such as clothing and household linen, in anticipation of married life. Today, some furniture makers refer to chests made to hold family heirlooms or general storage items as hope chests as well. This excellent piece has been beautifully adorned with images of seafaring, with tall-sailed ships, fishermen, and waterbirds in raised reliefs throughout. A label inside indicates it was created by craftsmen of the Wing On Company, Ltd. in Hong Kong.