Artmink

Qing Dynasty Gilded Wood Calligraphic Plaque

清代鎏金木雕匾额

By: Unknown (multiple carvers and calligrapher likely)

Style: Qing Dynasty Temple/Ancestral Hall Inscribed Plaques

Origin: China

Materials: Carved and gilded wood

Age: c. 1875–1908 (Guangxu reign, Qing Dynasty)

Condition: Very good (surface wear, patina, minor cracks and edge losses commensurate with age)

Value: $5,000–$12,000 (auction estimate, assuming authenticity and good provenance)

Maker's Marks / Writing: Main inscription: '望重間里'（Wàng Zhòng Jiān Lǐ）；Left-side inscription: '大清光绪某年某月吉日'（Dà Qīng Guāngxù [date]），indicating Guangxu year of the Qing dynasty; lower and right-side inscriptions list donors and dedicatory statements.

Date: 2025-07-02 01:24:46.545184

Description:

This is a large Chinese temple or ancestral hall plaque from the Qing Dynasty, specifically dated to the Guangxu period (1875–1908). The plaque features bold, deeply-carved and gilded Chinese calligraphy, reading '望重間裡' (Wàng Zhòng Jiān Lǐ, roughly 'Renowned within the community'). The inscription down the side documents its date and donors, while the openwork frame is richly decorated with gilded and painted wood carvings of auspicious animals (such as bats and what appear to be rats or squirrels), flowers, and foliage. Such plaques were awarded or commissioned to celebrate achievements, honor families, or bestow blessings upon a place or individual. Surface wear and patina suggest considerable age and authenticity, with visible signs of use and exposure typical for such temple pieces.     这是一块来自清代（光绪年间，1875-1908）的中国庙宇或祠堂大型木匾。匾额正面精雕并鎏金的书法为“望重间里”，寓意‘在社区中享有盛誉’。匾额两侧有详细的落款铭文，记载了年代和捐献者。雕花框以镂空技法装饰，有蝙蝠、松鼠或老鼠等瑞兽，以及繁花锦叶。此类匾额常见于表彰德业、家族荣耀或祈福。表面自然磨损和包浆显示出明显年代感与使用痕迹，符合传统庙宇悬挂遗存的状态。

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

A strong example of a Qing dynasty inscribed plaque with intricate openwork, deep calligraphy, and historical inscriptions. The patina and aged gilding strongly point to authenticity. Such pieces are rare outside of their original locations, and market value is supported by frame artistry, historical inscription, and condition. The frame’s detailed carving and wear are consistent with late 19th-century handwork. Visible cracks, minor losses, and wear are normal, increasing character but slightly lowering top-end values. Important: authenticity should be confirmed in-hand, due to prevalence of reproductions.     这是一块典型的清代匾额，镂空雕花边框工艺精湛，书法深刻有力，侧面铭文保存清晰，包浆和自然磨损高度吻合晚清原作。此类大型匾额在市场上流通稀少，集工艺美术与历史信息于一身，极具收藏与研究价值。雕刻工艺、镀金层次和自然老化痕迹均符合十九世纪末的手工品标准。局部裂纹、轻微缺损属正常磨耗，未严重影响整体观赏和价值。需注意市场赝品众多，最终真伪仍建议委托可信专家实物确认。

Individual Images:

• Close-up images of the left frame show intricate openwork with carved and gilded floral and animal motifs (likely bats—symbols of good fortune—and squirrels or mice). The gilding is aged and uneven
• consistent with original 19th-century work
• and the visible script is sharp but softened by age. The joint line across the middle of the plaque and localized splitting indicates natural shrinkage and movement in old wood. Vertical inscriptions beside the main text are intact and legible. No signs of crude machine carving or recent artificial distress are present.

Provenance:

No direct provenance information provided with the images.

Condition:

Very good (surface wear, patina, minor cracks and edge losses commensurate with age)

Identification Score: 98%

Large, inscribed Chinese wooden plaques with dated calligraphy and elaborate frames are well-documented Qing objects. The Guangxu mark is legible, as are the customary donor inscriptions, and the forms and motifs match known period pieces. The openwork and material are consistent with authentic late Qing temple/ancestral hall plaques.     带有纪年、题款和繁复雕刻边框的大型木质匾额为清朝常见公共空间装饰物之一。匾额左侧的“光绪年”款识和捐赠人题名清晰，整体雕刻风格、纹饰、书法、大料和包浆与晚清庙堂实物吻合，具有极高的辨识度。

Authenticity Score: 85%

Surface wear, flaked gilding, and patina are consistent with age. The complexity and quality of carving, along with inscription style, are difficult to convincingly fake at this scale. That said, there are high-quality reproductions on the market, so on-site inspection remains essential for absolute confirmation.     表面自然磨损、脱金和包浆显示出相当岁月痕迹，雕刻工艺精细，题款、用字风格难以仿造。但当前市场上存在高仿品，因此最高真伪判定仍需实物细查。

Image Memory Note

The object is a large, horizontal Chinese wooden plaque (匾额) with an openwork, gilded frame decorated with animal (bats, likely squirrels) and floral motifs. The central panel bears four large Chinese characters '望重間里' written in bold, deep-calligraphed relief. On the left vertical side is an inscription reading ‘大清光绪年某月吉日,’ identifying the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty as the commission date; further donor lists and dedications are present on the right. The frame has aged red and gold lacquer with areas of wear, revealing wood underneath. The black lacquered calligraphy panel has a horizontal shrinkage crack and multiple surface abrasions. The Chinese inscriptions are mostly legible, with minor abrasion loss, but no restoration or modern intervention is visible on the surface.     该件为大型横向中国木质匾额，边框采用镂空雕花工艺，饰有蝙蝠、松鼠/老鼠及繁叶等瑞纹，以鎏金及彩绘表现，局部龟裂掉金露木。匾面正中高浮雕四大字“望重间里”，字体雄健浑厚。左侧题有“⼤清光绪某年某月吉日”，明示光绪年间定制，右侧及下部记录捐献人名单及题献词。板身有明显横向拼缝与年代龟裂，表面包浆、磨痕稳定；铭文清晰、局部略磨损。整体无现代修补或做旧痕迹，具有典型清末庙宇匾额风格和存世状态。

Keywords

Qing dynasty, Guangxu, Chinese plaque, inscribed, temple, ancestral hall, gilded wood, calligraphy, China     清代，光绪，匾额，题字，庙宇，祠堂，鎏金木雕，书法，中国

Report ID:  : kkbty7

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