Name: Ningbo Wangong sedan chair

Time:  Late Qing to early Republican period

Figures: Height 275 cm, Length 150 cm, Width 90 cm

History: The Wangong bridal sedan chair of Ningbo is the most salient representative of red-and-golden wood carving (zhujin mudiao). It is made of wood and adorned with delicate carvings coated with red lacquer and golden paint. The decoration features hundreds of figures as well as flowers, birds, insects and animals in sculpture or relief, which illustrate theatrical stories or reflect auspicious themes, such as blessings from celestial officials, the God of Literature selecting the No. 1 Scholar, the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, the God of Harmony and God of Unity, 'the fisherman, the woodsman, the farmer and the scholar', the golden dragon and the colourful phoenix, the pomegranate with numerous seeds, and the magpie on the plum branch. The magnificent red and golden decoration, which is a mixture of sculpture, relief and openwork, is set off by painted glass, a gorgeously embroidered covering, and various kinds of delicate palace lanterns. Structured with traditional tenons and mortises, this was a first-class bridal sedan chair for hire and eight men were needed to carry it. As the most luxurious of all extant bridal sedan chairs, it is said to have taken the craftsmen 10,000 man-hours to finish.

(Executive Editor: Yongliu HE)