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
Painted Chinese Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted in the mid-19th century, this tall cabinet has a clean-lined form, designed with straight
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
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
$1,504 Sale Price
31% Off
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
Shop More furniture from PAGODA RED on 1stDibs
Chinese Bronze Taotie Cow Bell, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This large Sino-Tibetan bronze bell was originally used to track the movement of livestock. This distinctive spherical form was mostly worn by larger animals such as elephants, oxen ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Primitive Mounted Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mani Meditation Stone Console Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This stone top table exemplifies Organic Modern style with an emphasis on natural materials. The irregular shape and patterning of the stone slab top evokes the complexities of natur...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Organic Modern Console Tables
Materials
Stone
Monumental Reclaimed Elm Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This monumental dining table is a celebration of wabi-sabi style. The modern design is hand-crafted of elmwood timbers reclaimed from Qing-dynasty architecture, each selected for its...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Organic Modern Dining Room Tables
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
Set of Three Chinese Qing Dynasty Jade Bangles
Located in Chicago, IL
Valued for its rarity and lustrous appearance, jade (yù) has long been a symbol of excellence, longevity and purity of virtue. Worn as jewelry or as a protective charm, the stone was...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antiquities
Materials
Jade
$2,880 / set
Chinese Round Leg Square Table, circa 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This well-proportioned center table dates to the mid-19th century, crafted of elmwood (yumu) with mortise-and-tenon joinery with thick, round legs and an expansive floating-panel top...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Center Tables
Materials
Elm
Tibetan Flint Striker with Malachite Clasp
Located in Chicago, IL
In 19th-century Tibet, many men carried a fire striker to help ensure survival in the often-harsh climate of the Tibetan Plateau. Known as mechag, such strikers would hang from one's...
Category
20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Mounted Objects
Materials
Silver, Steel
Tobacco Reclaimed Elm Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted of wood reclaimed from 18th-century Chinese buildings, this contemporary three-leg stool is the epitome of farmhouse modern. Embracing the notion of “wabi-sabi,” the large st...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Organic Modern Stools
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
