Antique & Curio Shelf

Such a multi-story wood shelf was a necessity for ancient Chinese literati to display antiques and curios. There are many flowers in pots and bonsais sitting on the shelf in this piece, while on the table in the middle of the image there is a jade vase accommodating three halberds, making a pun of “three levels of promotion” based on the homonym of “halberd” and “level” in Chinese, conveying the wishes for a successful official career.