Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
How can I tell if my Chinese furniture is antique?
1 Answer
To determine the age of a Chinese furniture piece, look carefully at the joinery and finish. Natural expansion and contraction of the wood over time will cause a joint to protrude or retract, distorting a once-seamless fit. Antique lacquer finishes become crackled and worn over time. Areas of exposed wood, such as the underside of a table, the footrest of a chair, or the back of a cabinet should appear raw and dry compared to the finished surface. With use, the legs of tables and chairs become weathered near the bottom from precipitation and use.
PAGODA REDOctober 7, 2020
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Shop for Painted Chinese Cabinets on 1stDibs
Chinese Painted Book Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
painted cabinet in a children's bedroom or playroom as an unexpected bookcase or toy chest.
Additional
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Materials
Elm
Pair of Chinese Red Lacquer Book Cabinets, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the late 19th century, this pair of tall book cabinets was once used in a scholars' studio
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Bookcases
Materials
Elm
Chinese Painted Altar Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Made of Chinese northern elm, this altar cabinet once contained the essentials for ancestor rituals
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Brass
Chinese Painted Elephant Trunk Table, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This fantastic painted trunk from northern China is lavishly decorated from end to end in the
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Tibetan Blanket Chests
Materials
Brass
Low Chinese Painted Book Cabinet, Ming Dynasty
Located in Chicago, IL
this 19th century book chest. Expertly constructed in China's Shanxi province, the low cabinet
Category
Antique Mid-17th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Chinese Ming Painted Compound Cabinets, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
Seamlessly constructed and lacquered black, this pair of spectacular Ming-dynasty compound cabinets
Category
Antique Early 17th Century Chinese Ming Furniture
Materials
Brass
Shop More furniture from PAGODA RED on 1stDibs
Petite Lacquered Chinese Altar Coffer
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite altar coffer keeps with the style of Ming-dynasty furniture with clean lines and minimal ornamentation. The narrow coffer stands on thin legs ending in subtle hoof feet, ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Elm
Chinese Blue and White Jar with Birds and Flowers
Located in Chicago, IL
Loosely brushed with cobalt blue pigments, this round blue-and-white storage jar is adorned with a ribbon-tailed bird perched on a cluster of rocks, a symbol for a long and happy lif...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
"China Cabinet" Memory Jug by Michael Thompson
By Michael Thompson
Located in Chicago, IL
Based in Chicago, IL, contemporary artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites, collages and mixed media works assembled from material fragments of past and present collected in his...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware
Murano Glass Bubble Floor Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Chic and modern, this Murano glass floor lamp has an ivory-white silk shade and a tall column of transparent, blown glass spheres. The bead-like spheres have a uniform ribbed texture...
Category
Late 20th Century European Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Steel
Chinese Blue and White Four Flowers Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Loosely brushed with cobalt blue pigments, this round, blue-and-white storage jar is underglazed with lush garden scenery featuring the flowering plants of the four seasons. Tree peo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Jars
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Woven River Basket, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Centuries ago, a woven reed fisherman’s basket such as this would have been common in rural China as an everyday item, used until it became worn through. This hand-woven example rema...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Rustic Decorative Baskets
Materials
Wood, Willow
Chinese Polychrome Lucky Fish
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand-crafted from reclaimed wood, this artisanal koi sculpture is a traditional symbol of harmony and luck. For Buddhists, such a fish represents a freedom from all restraints. And b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Pine
