Carved Wood Gilt Chinese Dragon Wall Plaque

This is a large, intricately carved relief sculpture of a Chinese dragon, likely intended as an architectural pediment or a decorative wall plaque. The piece is constructed from wood and features an openwork (pierced) carving technique that gives the object a three-dimensional quality. The color palette is traditional, dominated by a gold gilt finish on the dragon's body, which is complemented by polychrome accents in deep red and forest green along the flowing mane, scales, and decorative clouds. The dragon is depicted in a dynamic, sinuous pose with four-clawed feet, indicating its status as a significant decorative motif. Physically, the item appears to be several feet in length. The craftsmanship is evident in the detailed scale work and the expressive facial features, including bulging eyes and an open mouth. Noted condition issues include visible surface wear, particularly rubbing of the gilt and paint layers which reveals the underlying wood or gesso. There is a noticeable break/separation in the wood near the center-right of the lower body, suggesting a structural weakness or a previous poor repair. The style and construction are indicative of mid-to-late 20th-century Asian export art, though it mimics much older Qing dynasty aesthetics. The heavy accumulation of dust and its storage on a basement floor suggest it may require professional cleaning and stabilization of the structural fracture.