Featured Something wooden, Chinese? Not sure how old or what for

Hi, can anyone give me an idea about these wooden panels I picked up for next to nothing at a charity shop (and maybe that's all they're worth).
I feel like they're Chinese and could be old or made yesterday.
They're shaped a bit like draw fronts, and the wood is fairly light.
They appear to be painted or stained and gilded.
Thanks in advance for your ideas.

 

Nice find, Dory. These are panels used in Chinese and Peranakan furniture and houses. They are made to be slotted into a larger panel or furniture part.
Panels like these are often replaced during restoration work.

 

A few examples of how Chinese gilded panels are used. These are from a posh Peranakan house in Penang, Malaysia, so posh panels.

A room divider or partition:


A bridal bed:


https://www.slideshare.net/JerryDaperro/penanag-heritage-houses

 

Oh wow! Thank you so much Any Jewelry.

 

It's a pleasure, Dory.

 

I’ve seen some of these go for good money via a high end eBay auctioneer with a strong following for Asian items. The ones they had were definitely cream of the crop type examples though. I’m guessing many don’t have huge potential. Here’s one I picked up for next to nothing one day at a sale. Not sure if it had any value or not but I like it. I think I have another one around somewhere as well.

 

I don't know if either of you ever want to sell them? If so, if you can find out if your panels came from Malaysia or Indonesia, you could add Peranakan and Straits Chinese to the listing, which attracts more buyers.

I have two humble but antique panels from a Peranakan house on Java's north coast, I think it was from the town of Demak. I have documentation from the family that bought them in the 1930s, so hopefully that helps if I ever sell them.

 

That's awesome, thanks Any Jewelry. I probably will sell mine, not sure what I'd do with them if I kept them. I'll look into it.

 

That's interesting, I don't think mine are especially well done, but lovely in their rusticness all the same.

 

They are perfectly charming and not at all badly done.
They clearly tell a story, which is lost on us. Maybe someone out there will recognize the scenes.

 

Hi again, I've just found another of these at a charity shop - to my mind better quality than the ones I posted above, also has mother of pearl which is lovely. Do you think this means they are better quality or just newer? thanks

 

I'd say better-quality. As AJ showed, they were even gilt at the highest levels of production, to really make them pop.

 

Great thanks, I was hoping that would be the case.

 

I’m no expert by any means but I like the first ones more. Particularly second in first post. I think the carving is pretty good there. Your recent post either survived in better condition or are newer. The MOP border is attractive as a whole, not as much close up but darn if it doesn’t look good macro.

 

Lovely, Dory. That MOP is unusual, and I bet it looks great in real life, when you can see it shimmer a bit.

The faces are better on the one you pointed out, but the last one has more 3D carving. I agree, not necessarily better quality, but the MOP embellishment is more rare, and a nice addition.

 

Thanks so much AJ ☺