A Vintage portable Chinese Wooden Plate carrier with 12 wooden plates; locking mechanism and brass carrying handle

Here we have on offer a very interesting vintage Chinese plate carrier - also known as a wedding or ceremonial banquet set, which includes 12 carved wooden plates and a fitted wooden rack with a locking mechanism and brass carrying handle.

These sets were traditionally used for banquets, weddings, or village feasts, where multiple dishes needed to be served and transported easily. The ability to carry an entire service of plates securely made it both practical and symbolic — it represented hospitality, communal gathering, and order. While these were sometimes used in household settings, they were more common in ritual, rural, or portable catering contexts.

The ingenious design features a frame with locking sliding arms at the top and a small brass handle for easy carrying. Twelve shallow wooden plates fit snugly inside—sturdy, stackable, and beautifully finished.

• Made from hardwood (likely elm or pear), with a rich reddish patina.

• The vertical posts have traditional pegged joints and a simple latch mechanism at the top to secure the stack.

• Minor wear, including a few chips and losses to the finish — common in well-used but well-loved pieces.

• The plates are in good shape, with natural grain and some surface markings/wear, consistent with age.

• Plates carrry inscriptions of Chinese characters. This includes the signed inscription: “葉造林記.” Translated, this reads approximately “Ye Zao Lin Ji”, which could mean “Made by Ye Zhaolin.”

Date; early to mid 20th Century.

Dimensions:

The set is approximately 500mm high x 190mm wide x 190mm deep (20" x 7 1/2" x 7 1/2")

Each plate approximately 197mm diameter (7 3/4") and 3.5cm high (1 1/2").

Weight: Approximately 2.8kg (unpacked).