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
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
Pair of Chinese Painted Compound Cabinets, Late Ming Dynasty
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
Chinese Red Lacquer Canopy Bed with Footrest, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A Chinese canopy bed, or marriage bed, was the most important part of a bride's dowry and was the central feature of her personal quarters. Traditionally, beds were central to Chines...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Elm, Reed
"Celestial Pond" Kite 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 Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Silk, Bamboo
“Tiny Striped Jacket" by Gordon Chandler
By Gordon Chandler
Located in Chicago, IL
Upon discovering a weathered steel drum that had been warped to resemble the sleeve of a garment, artist Gordon Chandler was inspired to embark on a series of kimono sculptures forme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Steel
"Musical Chairs" by Yoko Tanaka
By Yoko Tanaka
Located in Chicago, IL
With an illustrator’s eye for graphic impact and a wry sense of humor, artist Yoko Tanaka uses only a paint brush and her imagination to conjure whimsical landscapes and playful enco...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Contemporary Art
Materials
Paint, Canvas
Pair of Chinese Woven Hide Stools, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
The stool is a central fixture of Chinese furniture culture. Found in a variety of materials and forms, the stool transcends class lines, as much at home in the provincial courtyard ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Materials
Hide, Elm
$3,780 / set
"Study in Stripes" Kite 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 Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Silk, Bamboo
Pair of Mirrored Tin Candle Sconces, c. 1930s
Located in Chicago, IL
At once modern and traditional, these 1930s candle sconces are backed with circular mirrored reflectors, painstakingly assembled to a mosaic design from individual pieces of cut mirr...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese American Colonial Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Tin
$1,580 / set