Late Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912) China Pair of cabinets carved blackwood

Mr Tatlow purchased this pair of cabinets, the larger similarly carved blackwood cabinet, the pair of altar tables and the pair of gold and sliver thread embroideries from the surviving members of the Wolcken family in the 1980’s.

Each cabinet is a fine example of Chinese craftsmanship. The doors are beautifully carved feature panels, with a delicate use of line employed to depict frolicking sea dragons (li-lung) playing beneath swirling ocean waves.

“One of the most outstanding collections of Chinese antiques to be seen in Australia was that brought to this country by the Wolcken family during the early 1950s. The extensive collection comprised some very rare and beautiful examples of furniture, embroidery, porcelain and jewellery.

The family of Alfred Wolcken had resided in China for many years, Alfred himself being born there in 1874. He and his wife Anna lived in Tien-tsin and during those years their four sons Hans, Fritz, Kurt and Rolf were born.

Tien-tsin (“Heavenly Ford”) was at that time an important commercial centre and had been since the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1206-1368). With its location, south east of central Peking and on the edge of the North China Plain, Tien-tsin assumed an important role in China’s economy.

Alfred Wolcken and his family lived in most comfortable surroundings, as he held an important position in European trade. Wolcken socialised in the highest Chinese circles and with important officials, including Sun Yat-sen, who was leader of the Nationalist Party and influential in the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty (1911). Sun Yat-sen went on to become the first provincial president of the Republic of China.

Life in China became increasingly tense. Mao Tse-tung aimed to create in China a socialist society and worldwide communism. To this end the Communist Party sought the coalition of elements of the urban upper middle class with the working and peasant classes. One aspect of this involved the seizure and distribution of property and belongings from selected target groups—rural landlords, traitors, bureaucratic capitalists and specific foreign nationals—as observed by Communist Party members.

It was at that time, in the early 1950s, that Hans and Margarita Wolcken arrived in Australia, having left China in time to save themselves and their fine antiques from the advance of the Communists.

One of the most exceptional pieces of the collection was this pair of matching cabinets featuring heavy carving. The cabinets dated from the 18th century and were made from tzu-t’an wood which was considered the finest of the Chinese cabinet woods.”

- Wayne Ricketts