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
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
Set of Three Vintage Cast Iron Leaves
Located in Chicago, IL
The artisan who sculpted these leaves in metal found inspiration in the organic forms of the natural world. Cast in iron, each leaf is at once delicate and everlasting, capturing the...
Category
20th Century American Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Iron
$2,980 / set
Chinese Red Lacquer Book Chest with Lotus & Peonies, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This small Chinese cabinet from the early 20th century was originally used to store a scholar's collection of books and rolled-up scrolls. The chest is faced with two doors that open...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Chinese Ming Iron Brushed Jar, c. 1600
Located in Chicago, IL
This Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) storage jar is attributed to the kilns of Yunnan province, loosely decorated with iron underglaze in a manner typical of the region. Dated to the 15th/1...
Category
Antique 16th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Chinese Famille Verte Cabbage Jar, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This whimsical Chinese ginger jar is decorated with famille verte enamels for an allover design of leafy green cabbage. Depicting the white stalks and curling leaves of a head of nap...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Two Door Keeper's Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century locking cabinet from Shanxi province is the perfect place to stow household odds and ends. Crafted with traditional joinery, the small cabinet has an overhung top, ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Materials
Elm
Chinese Prosperity Stone Disc, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This round stone disc originated in Shanxi province as an early 20th-century threshing wheel. Secured to a wooden axel that ran through the center, the stone was rolled across stalks...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Organic Modern Mounted Objects
Materials
Limestone
Reclaimed Elm Side Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This artisan-crafted side table is a celebration of wabi-sabi style. Crafted of thick elmwood timbers reclaimed from Qing-dynasty architecture, the table has a minimalist waterfall d...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Organic Modern Night Stands
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
$2,680