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19th Century Chinese Sideboard in Red Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Sideboard in Red Lacquer

19th Century Chinese Sideboard in Red Lacquer

Located in Kastrup, DK

Sideboard in red lacquer with black lacquer top and sides. With a natural patina.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Elm

Pair of Chinese 18th Century Lacquer Cabinets
Pair of Chinese 18th Century Lacquer Cabinets

Pair of Chinese 18th Century Lacquer Cabinets

Located in Astoria, NY

A pair of antique black lacquer and gilt-painted wood cabinets, originating from mainland China, produced circa 18th century, each with two doors, including metalwork handles and lat...

Category

Antique 18th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Paint

Sensational Red Lacquer Chinese Chest
Sensational Red Lacquer Chinese Chest

Sensational Red Lacquer Chinese Chest

Located in Hopewell, NJ

Chinese red lacquer chest of drawers with fabulous bronze hardware, multiple drawers and a wonderful little door on the lower right that opens to a secret compartment.

Category

Vintage 1940s Chinese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Painted and Lacquered Chinese Cabinet
Painted and Lacquered Chinese Cabinet

Painted and Lacquered Chinese Cabinet

Located in Troy, MI

Original worn painted finish of orange/yellow and black lacquer has been sanded to a smooth finish and protected with a clear lacquer finish.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chinese Black Lacquer Locking Chest, c. 1850
Chinese Black Lacquer Locking Chest, c. 1850

Chinese Black Lacquer Locking Chest, c. 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

The chest is minimally decorated save for its black lacquer finish and the soft glimmer of its brass hinges and dagger-post lock.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Night Stands

Materials

Elm

Chinese Tall Black Lacquer Cabinet
Chinese Tall Black Lacquer Cabinet

Chinese Tall Black Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Sleek Chinese tall black lacquer cabinet made in the Ming style fronted by two narrow doors, made with wood hinges.

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Cabinets

Chinese Black Lacquer and Painted Storage Cabinet
Chinese Black Lacquer and Painted Storage Cabinet

Chinese Black Lacquer and Painted Storage Cabinet

Located in Astoria, NY

Vintage Chinese Black Lacquer and Painted Storage Cabinet with paneled doors decorated with courtiers in a landscape, enclosing a central shelf.

Category

20th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century Lacquered Chinese Buffet
19th Century Lacquered Chinese Buffet

19th Century Lacquered Chinese Buffet

Located in New Orleans, LA

Beautifully lacquered 19th century buffet.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Buffets

Chinese Red Lacquer Scholars' Cabinet, circa 1850
Chinese Red Lacquer Scholars' Cabinet, circa 1850

Chinese Red Lacquer Scholars' Cabinet, circa 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

With its commanding scale and simple silhouette, this tall Qing-dynasty cabinet offered the perfect canvas for elaborate decoration. Crafted in the mid-19th century, the cabinet has ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cupboards

Materials

Elm

Red Lacquered Chinese Sideboard with Four Drawers
Red Lacquered Chinese Sideboard with Four Drawers

Red Lacquered Chinese Sideboard with Four Drawers

Located in Chicago, IL

Originally from Hebei, China the piece was made from reclaimed elm wood and red lacquer.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Sideboards

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Chinese Red Lacquer Book Cabinet, c. 1700
Chinese Red Lacquer Book Cabinet, c. 1700

Chinese Red Lacquer Book Cabinet, c. 1700

Located in Chicago, IL

Traces of the original gilt floral painting remain on the doors of this early 18th century red-lacquered chest from Shanxi province. Countless coats of hand-applied red lacquer give ...

Category

Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Qing Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chinese Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, circa 1900
Chinese Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, circa 1900

Chinese Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, circa 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

Crafted in the late 19th century, this striking red lacquer cabinet was likely part of a traditional wedding dowry, bestowed upon the groom by the bride's family filled with fine sil...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Monumental 19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cupboard
Monumental 19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cupboard

Monumental 19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cupboard

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Monumental 19th century chinese red lacquer cupboard circa 1870. Stunning chinese cupboard of the largest proportions we have ever seen.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Cupboards

Materials

Hardwood, Lacquer, Paint

18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet
18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet

18th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Chinoiserie Table Cabinet

Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Depicting figurative scenes to all planes and opening on engraved strap hinges to a fitted interior of eight small drawers of varying size.       

Category

Antique 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cabinets

Materials

Lacquer

Chinese Black Lacquer Side Cabinet, c. 1850
Chinese Black Lacquer Side Cabinet, c. 1850

Chinese Black Lacquer Side Cabinet, c. 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

Perfecting line and proportion, the simple design of this low square corner cabinet celebrates the restraint of classic Chinese furniture forms. Dated to the mid-19th century, the ch...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Red Lacquered Chinese Kwang Chest with Four Drawers
Red Lacquered Chinese Kwang Chest with Four Drawers

Red Lacquered Chinese Kwang Chest with Four Drawers

Located in Chicago, IL

This gorgeous low chest is from Shandong, China and was made from Shandong, China and was made from reclaimed elmwood and red lacquer.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Lacquered Chinese Four Door Coffer, circa 1850
Lacquered Chinese Four Door Coffer, circa 1850

Lacquered Chinese Four Door Coffer, circa 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

This 19th-century storage coffer is expertly crafted of northern elm (yumu) using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery methods. The square-corner cabinet is built with two sets of d...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Buffets

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Chinese Red Lacquer Mountain Cabinet, c. 1850
Chinese Red Lacquer Mountain Cabinet, c. 1850

Chinese Red Lacquer Mountain Cabinet, c. 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

An ideal place to display jades, porcelain, and other esteemed scholars' objects, this tall cabinet likely stood as the centerpiece of a traditional scholars' studio, carefully selec...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chinese Red Lacquered Wedding Cabinet
Chinese Red Lacquered Wedding Cabinet

Chinese Red Lacquered Wedding Cabinet

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Chinese 19th century red lacquered wedding cabinet, dating from the late period of the Qing Dynasty.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Cupboards

Materials

Brass

Pair of Chinese Export Lacquered Flora Fauna Cabinets
Pair of Chinese Export Lacquered Flora Fauna Cabinets

Pair of Chinese Export Lacquered Flora Fauna Cabinets

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Dramatic pair of Chinese export black lacquered cabinets decorated with colorful flora and fauna.

Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Chinese Oxblood Lacquer Cabinet with Bi-Fold Doors
Chinese Oxblood Lacquer Cabinet with Bi-Fold Doors

Chinese Oxblood Lacquer Cabinet with Bi-Fold Doors

Located in Chicago, IL

This Chinese oxblood lacquer cabinet is from China and is made from elmwood and oxblood lacquer, mid-19th century.

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

A DAVID HICKS CHINOISERIE CABINET ON STAND
A DAVID HICKS CHINOISERIE CABINET ON STAND

A DAVID HICKS CHINOISERIE CABINET ON STAND

Located in NYC, NY

The case decoration is executed in authentic chinese lacquer with a modernized abstracted design based on the 18th century original cabinets.

Category

Vintage 1960s English Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Chinese Black Lacquered Chest from the 1940s
Chinese Black Lacquered Chest from the 1940s

Chinese Black Lacquered Chest from the 1940s

Located in Lejre, DK

Chinese black lacquered chest from the 1940s. The chest is in great antique condition.

Category

Vintage 1940s Chinese Other Blanket Chests

Materials

Wood

Chinese Carved Gilt + Lacquer Vitrine
Chinese Carved Gilt + Lacquer Vitrine

Chinese Carved Gilt + Lacquer Vitrine

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

Chinese carved gilt + lacquer vitrine.

Category

Vintage 1910s Chinese Chinoiserie Vitrines

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique Japanese Revival Black Lacquered Display Cabinet Circa1900
Antique Japanese Revival Black Lacquered Display Cabinet Circa1900

Antique Japanese Revival Black Lacquered Display Cabinet Circa1900

Located in London, GB

European japanning differs from traditional East Asian lacquerwork which uses sap from the ‘Toxicodendron vernicifluum’ tree, also known as the Chinese lacquer tree, which is not ind...

Category

Antique Early 1900s Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Chinese Black Lacquer Art Deco Kang Cabinet
Chinese Black Lacquer Art Deco Kang Cabinet

Chinese Black Lacquer Art Deco Kang Cabinet

Located in Kastrup, DK

Chinese antique Art Deco 'Kang-cabinet'. Black lacquer.

Category

Vintage 1910s Chinese Art Deco Sideboards

Materials

Wood

Pair of Ming Style Red Lacquered Chinese Chests
Pair of Ming Style Red Lacquered Chinese Chests

Pair of Ming Style Red Lacquered Chinese Chests

Located in Somis, CA

Price is for the PAIR. A pair of beautiful Chinese red lacquered cabinets. These cabinets were made in the Ming style, a timeless design that works well in almost any interiors.

Category

20th Century Chinese Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chinese Red and Black Lacquered Two-Door Cabinet
Chinese Red and Black Lacquered Two-Door Cabinet

Chinese Red and Black Lacquered Two-Door Cabinet

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

Chinese red and black lacquered four-door cabinet having upper and lower sections, the doors painted with stylized landscapes and with ornate brass lock plates and hinges.    

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Cabinets

Materials

Lacquer

Antique Chinese Red Lacquered Sideboard
Antique Chinese Red Lacquered Sideboard

Antique Chinese Red Lacquered Sideboard

Located in Round Top, TX

The entire sideboard has a lacquered finish, which creates depth and character in the piece.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Sideboards

Chinese Qing Red-Lacquered Cabinet
Chinese Qing Red-Lacquered Cabinet

Chinese Qing Red-Lacquered Cabinet

Located in Kastrup, DK

A early 19th century qing dynasty cabinet boasting a deep red patina from the Shanxi Province, circa. 1820-1830. The façade showcases two doors fitted with a traditional round medal...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Mid-19Th Century Chinese Qing Red Lacquer Cabinet
Mid-19Th Century Chinese Qing Red Lacquer Cabinet

Mid-19Th Century Chinese Qing Red Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Kastrup, DK

Mid-19th century Chinese cabinet in original well preserved red lacquer.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Elm

Late 19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Sideboard
Late 19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Sideboard

Late 19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Sideboard

Located in Chicago, IL

This late 19th century chest, crafted in northern China, started its life as a storage trunk with a solid lacquered front.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards

Materials

Brass

Antique Red Lacquered Chinese Kitchen Island Sideboard
Antique Red Lacquered Chinese Kitchen Island Sideboard

Antique Red Lacquered Chinese Kitchen Island Sideboard

Located in Round Top, TX

The highly polished lacquered finish gives this cabinet a sleek look and brings out the depth of the red paint. This long sideboard with three drawers and open shelving below is also...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Sideboards

Materials

Wood

Lacquered Chinese Sideboard
Lacquered Chinese Sideboard

Lacquered Chinese Sideboard

Located in Chicago, IL

19th century Chinese altar cabinet with flanked top panel, three locking drawers, and two doors with brass hardware.

Pagoda Red Collection #: DVB008

Category

Antique 19th Century Cabinets

Chinese Red Lacquered Elmwood Cube Bookcase / Shelf
Chinese Red Lacquered Elmwood Cube Bookcase / Shelf

Chinese Red Lacquered Elmwood Cube Bookcase / Shelf

Located in Chicago, IL

Chinese Red Lacquered Elmwood Cube Bookcase / Shelf This twelve-sectioned red lacquered shelf is perfect for all your storage needs.

Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Modern Shelves

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Yellow Lacquer Qing Dynasty Chest, China, 1840s
Yellow Lacquer Qing Dynasty Chest, China, 1840s

Yellow Lacquer Qing Dynasty Chest, China, 1840s

Located in Kastrup, DK

Original yellow lacquer, beautiful Elmwood grains. Cool natural patina.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Blanket Chests

Materials

Elm

19th Century Chinese Cabinet with Original Red Lacquer
19th Century Chinese Cabinet with Original Red Lacquer

19th Century Chinese Cabinet with Original Red Lacquer

Located in Kastrup, DK

Cabinet with original red lacquer on front, original black lacquer on sides and top.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Ming Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Vintage Black Lacquered Dresser from Chaozhou, China
Vintage Black Lacquered Dresser from Chaozhou, China

Vintage Black Lacquered Dresser from Chaozhou, China

Located in Singapore, SG

A beautiful black lacquered table with gold painting from Chaozhou province, China.

Category

Vintage 1930s Chinese Qing Furniture

Materials

Elm, Fir, Pine

Chinese Red Lacquer Painted Cabinet, c. 1850
Chinese Red Lacquer Painted Cabinet, c. 1850

Chinese Red Lacquer Painted Cabinet, c. 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

The lyrical lines and brilliant red lacquer of this stately 19th century cabinet must have proved irresistible to the artisan who painted its surfaces with intricate detail. Long, ve...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Lacquer, Elm

Chinese Cabinet with Original Lacquer
Chinese Cabinet with Original Lacquer

Chinese Cabinet with Original Lacquer

Located in Chicago, IL

This three-piece cabinet was likely intended to hold books, as bookshelves were an important element in a Chinese scholar’s library. The clean lines are enhanced by simple hardware a...

Category

20th Century Chinese Sideboards

Materials

Wood

Black Lacquer Collectors Cabinet Chinese Chinoiserie
Black Lacquer Collectors Cabinet Chinese Chinoiserie

Black Lacquer Collectors Cabinet Chinese Chinoiserie

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Stunning black lacquer collectors cabinet decorated with Chinoiserie Doors open out to reveal all the drawers and cubby holes Each of which profusely decorated with Chinoiserie, in...

Category

Vintage 1980s Cabinets

Materials

Lacquer

Black Lacquer Collectors Cabinet Chinese Chinoiserie
Black Lacquer Collectors Cabinet Chinese Chinoiserie

Black Lacquer Collectors Cabinet Chinese Chinoiserie

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Stunning black lacquer collectors cabinet decorated with chinoiserie.

Category

Vintage 1930s Cabinets

Materials

Lacquer

Antique Red Lacquer Chinese Fretwork Cabinet
Antique Red Lacquer Chinese Fretwork Cabinet

Antique Red Lacquer Chinese Fretwork Cabinet

Located in Yonkers, NY

Red Lacquer Antique Chinese Cabinet with Carved Doors & Decorated Panels.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Furniture

Chinese Gilt Red Lacquer Cabinet, Late 18th Century
Chinese Gilt Red Lacquer Cabinet, Late 18th Century

Chinese Gilt Red Lacquer Cabinet, Late 18th Century

Located in Prahran, Victoria

Rare Chinese red rhus lacquer cabinet with original gilt decoration of classical landscapes and figures.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Chinese Qing Furniture

Materials

Elm

Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Oxblood Lacquer Cabinet
Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Oxblood Lacquer Cabinet

Late Qing Dynasty Chinese Oxblood Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

This Chinese storage chest dates to the late 1800s. The paneled door inserts and drawer fronts feature dramatically contrasting wood grain and moon-form escutcheon with ring pulls. H...

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards

Materials

Metal

Chinese 19th century red lacquer country trunk coffee table
Chinese 19th century red lacquer country trunk coffee table

Chinese 19th century red lacquer country trunk coffee table

Located in Yonkers, NY

Chinese 19th century wedding trunk with stand ca 1850.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lacquer

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquered Chest
19th Century Chinese Red Lacquered Chest

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquered Chest

Located in Chicago, IL

A 19th century Chinese red lacquered elmwood chest with two drawers and two doors with brass hardware.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Furniture

Materials

Elm

20th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet
20th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

20th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

A heavily lacquered Elm cabinet from China. This cabinet featured large brass hardware and opens to reveal one shelf.

Category

20th Century Chinese Cabinets

Chinese Black Lacquer Brass Bound Trunk, Early 20th C.
Chinese Black Lacquer Brass Bound Trunk, Early 20th C.

Chinese Black Lacquer Brass Bound Trunk, Early 20th C.

Located in Raymondville, TX

This striking early 20th century Chinese trunk or blanket chest is bound in brass and features a black lacquer finish, dovetail construction, medallion backplate side handles and dua...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Blanket Chests

Materials

Brass

PAIR, Red Lacquered Chinese Cabinets/Armoires, Circa 1770
PAIR, Red Lacquered Chinese Cabinets/Armoires, Circa 1770

PAIR, Red Lacquered Chinese Cabinets/Armoires, Circa 1770

Located in Round Top, TX

PAIR, matching original painted Chinese Cabinets/Armoires. This pair is exceptional due to the delicate carved detail and amazing color, depth and texture of the original red finish ...

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Chinese Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint, Lacquer

Chinese Open Shelf Cabinet with Cream Colored Lacquer Finish
Chinese Open Shelf Cabinet with Cream Colored Lacquer Finish

Chinese Open Shelf Cabinet with Cream Colored Lacquer Finish

Located in Troy, MI

Chinese cabinet has a cream color lacquer finish on the outside with a contrasting celadon interior, circa 1900s.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet
19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

19th Century Chinese cabinet with original red lacquer. Having two panelled doors with decorative panels above and below.

Category

Antique 19th Century Cabinets

Materials

Lacquer

Chinese Black Lacquer Soapstone Scholar's Cabinet
Chinese Black Lacquer Soapstone Scholar's Cabinet

Chinese Black Lacquer Soapstone Scholar's Cabinet

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Stunning Chinese black lacquer soapstone and hardstone scholar's cabinet.

Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Soapstone, Brass

'Namban' Japanese Lacquer Export Cabinet
'Namban' Japanese Lacquer Export Cabinet

'Namban' Japanese Lacquer Export Cabinet

Located in London, GB

The Edict was enlarged in 1639, to exclude all foreigners from Japan, under pain of death, effectively ending trade with Europe. Japanese lacquers, prized above Chinese lacquer work,...

Category

Antique 17th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gilt Metal

Chinese Four-Door Four-Drawer Red Lacquer Cabinet
Chinese Four-Door Four-Drawer Red Lacquer Cabinet

Chinese Four-Door Four-Drawer Red Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

This 19th century coffer created in Northern China started its life as a storage trunk with a solid lacquered front.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet
19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

A 19th century Chinese red lacquer elmwood cabinet with two doors and two drawers.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Elm

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet
19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

19th Century Chinese Red Lacquer Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

A 19th century Chinese red lacquer cabinet with two doors and two drawers with brass hardware.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Elm

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Chinese Lacquer For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic piece of Chinese lacquer available at 1stDibs. Was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, lacquer and hardwood. If you’re shopping for an item from our selection of Chinese lacquer, we have 1223 options in-stock, while there are 44 modern editions to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect choice in our collection of Chinese lacquer — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. When you’re browsing for the right object in our assortment of Chinese lacquer, those designed in Mid-Century Modern, Louis XV and Hollywood Regency styles are of considerable interest. You’ll likely find more than one option in this array of Chinese lacquer that is appealing in its simplicity, but Modshop, Drexel and Ficks Reed produced versions that are worth a look. A large piece of Chinese lacquer can prove too imposing for some spaces, so the smaller item from our selection of Chinese lacquer available at 1stDibs — each spanning 10 in width — may make for a better choice.

How Much is a Chinese Lacquer?

Prices for a piece of Chinese lacquer can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $240 and can go as high as $346,832, while the average can fetch as much as $4,540.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About Chinese Lacquer
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Chinese lacquer refers to the specific lacquering styles used in Chinese wares. Chinese lacquerware has a tradition stretching back thousands of years, and vintage examples are highly sought after by collectors. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of expertly-vetted Chinese lacquerware from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    There is actually no different between lacquer and acrylic lacquer. Acrylic lacquer is a type of lacquer. Unlike nitrocellulose lacquer, acrylic lacquer goes on clear and remains clear over time.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Chinese black lacquer is a resin sourced from the Toxicodendron vernicifluum (formerly Rhus verniciflua) tree that grows throughout East Asia. Artisans produce decorative objects entirely from the substance or use it as a finish for wood and other materials. Find a selection of Chinese black lacquer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    To care for Chinese lacquered furniture, wipe it with a damp cloth regularly. You can use a paste wax intended for use on lacquer finishes to restore shine, but avoid using harsh furniture polishes and cleaners on pieces. On 1stDibs, shop a range of lacquered furniture.

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