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 Crackled Lacquer Noodle Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This painted Chinese cabinet dates to the mid-19th century and has a richly aged patina that only time can achieve. The narrow cabinet is finished with layers of dark brown and burgu...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Elm
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
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
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
Chinese Enchanted Garden Coffer, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
scrollwork traces the outer frame. Contrasted by the richly aged black lacquer finish, the painted decoration
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Chinese Black Lacquer Four Flowers Coffer, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
hardware. The cabinet face is beautifully painted with vases filled with flowers of the four seasons
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Shop More furniture from PAGODA RED on 1stDibs
Pair of Chinese Lacquered Bookcases with Spindle Sides, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
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Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Bookcases
Materials
Elm
Japanese Meiji Blue & White Daffodil Hibachi
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to hold glowing embers, hibachi vessels were used for cooking or as a source of heat in Japanese homes. Ceramic examples such as this were introduced during the Meiji period...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
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Low Chinese Full Moon Table, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
With a simple silhouette and minimal ornamentation, this low coffee table from the late-19th century embodies the elegance and restraint of Chinese furniture design. Seamlessly const...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Elm
Japanese Meiji Blue & White Arita Hibachi
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to hold glowing embers, hibachi vessels were used for cooking or as a source of heat in Japanese homes. Ceramic examples such as this were introduced during the Meiji period...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Crackled Lacquer Noodle Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This painted Chinese cabinet dates to the mid-19th century and has a richly aged patina that only time can achieve. The narrow cabinet is finished with layers of dark brown and burgu...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Elm
Chinese Red Lacquer Writing Set with Twin Dragons, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed for traveling poets or scholar-artists, a collapsible writing set allowed a Chinese calligrapher to paint in nature, whether a journey to a far-off vista or an afternoon spe...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chinese Blue & White Tea Pot, c. 1930s
Located in Chicago, IL
This blue-and-white porcelain teapot dates to the early 20th century and would have been used as either a teapot for brewed tea or as a ewer for dispensing boiled water during tea ce...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
