This unusual red Chinese wedding cabinet come with a twist – the erotic scenes hand painted in gold are both beautiful and unexpected.
I came across this in 2005 and have not seen anything like it again ever since. At best, the painting has been retouched and at worst, the finish was completely new. The cabinet itself looks old though. Regardless, it would have made a great conversation piece in my living room….
While everyone knows India has had the “Kama Sutra,” did you know China has had erotic art and literature for quite some time now and famous Chinese erotic classics include The Carnal Prayer Mat and The Golden Lotus.
JOU PU TUAN (The Prayer Mat of Flesh)
According to the best information, “Jou Pu Tuan” is a novel of the Ming Period, first published in 1634 and written by Li Yu, the famous dramatist, novelist, and essayist. The novel mixes the erotic and the moral in a tale designed to amuse the reader as well as reform him. Translated by Richard Martin from the German version. 60 b&w illustrations.
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We recently sold a pair of mid 18th century Chinese Cabinets on Stand with erotic panels. Two more from the same workshop exist at the Chateau de Beloeil in Belgium; they are believed to have been made for Marie Antionette.