Lol. I didn't plan on bidding on them but when they couldn't get an opening bid I had to go for it.

Mar 30, 2022,14:23 PM
 

Twenty panels, plus the large decorative piece above the chair. My winning bid was $250 total. No one bid because no one knew what they would do with them. In fact I wasn't sure how I would use them either but bid on them anyway. My wife suggested using them in my office after we got them home and did some measuring.
Each panel is two sided so I had to choose which side I wanted to show. Two of the panels were used for doors into the room so for those both sides are visible.

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Is anyone able to translate this Chinese inscription for me?

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 29th, 2022-22:02
Years ago I paneled my entire office with antique Chinese doors and decorative trim I won at a local auction. On one of the panels there's a very small inscription that I've always wondered about. It's difficult to get a decent photo because of the many l...  

haha 😁

 
 By: christianch : March 29th, 2022-22:09

LOL...I can't stop laughing!

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 29th, 2022-22:22

:)))

 
 By: amanico : March 30th, 2022-06:00

ROFL

 
 By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : March 29th, 2022-22:35

Love it🤣

 
 By: aperna : March 30th, 2022-01:58

It was an easy one. ;)

 
 By: amanico : March 30th, 2022-05:39

It says: "in 2022, there will be a quartz speedmaster with a plastic case for 250$" :)

 
 By: @lberti : March 29th, 2022-22:06
Jokes aside, i cannot! Sorry matey I am sure, some of our Asian friends can help here. Just give them some time to reply. Cheers

I agree this a very cool and charming office

 
 By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : March 29th, 2022-22:36

Thank you!

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:08

Very nice office, I like these panels so different!!!

 
 By: Motty : March 29th, 2022-23:18
Good luck figuring out what it means

Thanks!

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:08

Wow. What an office!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 29th, 2022-23:43
I'm not sure what that inscription means, but what an office!

Thank you, Patrick.

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:11

Lol...Thank you!

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:11

I just asked my Chinese girlfriend...

 
 By: jleno : March 30th, 2022-00:23
She says it looks like it starts off with a year, followed by "given to the palace." She said the inscription might be related to a story the carving on the panel is showing, but she's not sure.

Interesting!

 
 By: patrick_y : March 30th, 2022-16:02

Lol. I didn't plan on bidding on them but when they couldn't get an opening bid I had to go for it.

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:23
Twenty panels, plus the large decorative piece above the chair. My winning bid was $250 total. No one bid because no one knew what they would do with them. In fact I wasn't sure how I would use them either but bid on them anyway. My wife suggested using t... 

ROFL!

 
 By: amanico : March 30th, 2022-20:11

Amazing. I love your office panels.

 
 By: ChristianDK : March 30th, 2022-02:33
What a charming space they create

Thank you.

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:23

I think it says 元年近宮 (yuan nian jin gong).

 
 By: Ruffian : March 30th, 2022-03:02
Apparently, 元年 refers to the first year of an emperor's reign. 近宮 I presume means he entered the palace? Ymmv.

I think it says "元年進宮"

 
 By: THWatch : March 30th, 2022-04:49
However, not sure what that means. Very cool panels by the way.

I think you're right. My bad.

 
 By: Ruffian : March 30th, 2022-09:02
It means enter the palace. Colloquially, it can also mean enter a jail.

Lol...entering a jail.

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:36

Looks like it.

 
 By: Ruffian : March 31st, 2022-00:42

I think I might have a good guess!

 
 By: SakeM : March 30th, 2022-03:20
Sorry for the double post. just saw the post above so edited to say I agree with it. (I had a super long response that didn't make nearly as much sense once there other poster wrote out the characters 😂). Fun times trying to dredge up my classical Chinese... 

Another vote for the emperor entering the palace

 
 By: SakeM : March 30th, 2022-03:22
I think the first characters are an archaic form of first year.

Thanks for your comment!

 
 By: Emil Wojcik : March 30th, 2022-14:42

Gentlemen’s Club

 
 By: GuyT : March 30th, 2022-07:18
Wow, that is some office, do you get any work done with all the distractions? It looks like a place that I would happily visit and talk watches over a drink.

Great thread

 
 By: MPP : April 1st, 2022-02:31
Love the group input to solve the puzzle. And educational too.

Well, I thought it read . . .

 
 By: Dr No : April 4th, 2022-17:25
. . . "Made in USA", but then, my Mandarin is spotty.