Chinese Wood Wheelbarrow

Little wheeled barrow with a railed bed and one wheel, long on handles.

This wheelbarrow is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is elm wood. Many Chinese antiques are now returning to China through auction houses and foreign dealers, as Chinese buyers actively purchase older pieces back, which the article describes as reclaiming their heritage. Open slatted bed with a fence of short upright posts around three sides. Two long shafts stretch out in front, and a single large solid wheel sits at the side. Light tan color with scuffs and dry grain. It is 67 inches long, 26.5 deep and 23 high.

One wheel, two handles, zero interest in speed.