Soapstone Inlay Panels Appraisal

Vintage Chinese Black Lacquer Wall Panels with Soapstone Inlay

A decorative set of two vertical wall panels featuring traditional Chinese bird and floral motifs. Each rectangular panel is constructed with a high-gloss black lacquer finish on a wooden base. The central design elements are rendered in high-relief using hand-carved soapstone and potentially shell or mother-of-pearl inlays, depicting birds perched on blossoming cherry or plum branches. One panel prominently features a peacock, while the other shows songbirds. The border of each panel is intricately decorated with a gold-painted geometric trellis pattern, characteristic of mid-20th-century Chinoiserie exports. The panels exhibit some minor surface scratches on the lacquer and slight age-related wear to the stone carvings. The craftsmanship suggests they were produced for the decorative export market, likely dating from the 1960s to 1980s. Each panel appears to be approximately 30-36 inches in height and 10-12 inches in width. No visible maker's marks or signatures are apparent in the image, but the style is consistent with traditional Cantonese or Hong Kong lacquerware shops of the period.