Antique Gilt Tray Basket

This stunning octagonal 19th-century Chinese basket tray is hand-crafted from solid elm wood. It is on raised feet that elevate it both physically and aesthetically. The surface showcases a finely hand-painted scene from the famed classic novel, "Dream of the Red Chamber.", featuring the delicate heroine, Dai Yu, walking gracefully in a garden. She is depicted carrying a hoe with a sachet attached to its end on her shoulder, a poignant image from the novel where she collects and buries fallen flower petals, cherishing their fleeting beauty. The painting is executed with exceptional skill, capturing Dai Yu with realistic facial features and a finely detailed, floor-length flowing robe. Surrounding the central figure is a decorative border of seasonal flora and fruit, all rendered in luxurious gilding. Spring peaches, summer pomegranates, fall chrysanthemums, and winter prunus blossoms, all supporting the harmony of the seasons. Originally used as a fruit basket to display fresh seasonal fruits for fragrance and visual splendor, this unique work of art captures a moment of literary history. Signed by maker.