Vintage Wall Panels w/Bird & Floral Inlay, Pair

Mid 20th Century/Asia

Traditional craftsmen in China and Japan produced elaborate wall panels in workshops specializing in decorative home furnishings. These pieces were made during the mid-20th century to satisfy international demand for decorative oriental art in Western interiors. Makers applied layers of dark lacquer over a wooden base before meticulously carving and setting pieces of mother-of-pearl, soapstone, and bone to create raised pictorial scenes.

Affluent homeowners and interior decorators used these panels to adorn living rooms, dining spaces, and hallways. They were hung in pairs or larger sets to bring a sense of exotic elegance and rich texture to blank interior walls. Over time, changing interior design trends caused their popularity to wane, and many were retired from daily residential display into the secondary collector market.