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Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Brown Lacquered Display Shelves with Fretwork Motifs
Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Brown Lacquered Display Shelves with Fretwork Motifs

Pair of Late Qing Dynasty Brown Lacquered Display Shelves with Fretwork Motifs

Located in Yonkers, NY

Each shelving unit features an asymmetrical arrangement of compartments, meticulously carved with key-fret borders, a revered symbol in classical Chinese design. The warm brown lacqu...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Bookcases

Materials

Hardwood

Chinese 19th Century Qing Dynasty Cabinet with Two Doors over Two Drawers
Chinese 19th Century Qing Dynasty Cabinet with Two Doors over Two Drawers

Chinese 19th Century Qing Dynasty Cabinet with Two Doors over Two Drawers

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period lacquered cabinet from the 19th century, with natural color and two doors over two drawers.

Category

Antique 19th Century Qing Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Heavily Carved Oak Faces Urns Motive Two Door China Cabinet c1880s MINT!
Heavily Carved Oak Faces Urns Motive Two Door China Cabinet c1880s MINT!

Heavily Carved Oak Faces Urns Motive Two Door China Cabinet c1880s MINT!

By J. Horner

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Heavily Carved Oak Faces Urns Motive Two Door China Cabinet c1880s MINT! Adjustable shelves

Category

Antique 19th Century American Jacobean Cupboards

Materials

Glass, Oak

Antique Carved Oak Two Doors Jacobean Style China Cabinet Cupboard Hutch Buffet
Antique Carved Oak Two Doors Jacobean Style China Cabinet Cupboard Hutch Buffet

Antique Carved Oak Two Doors Jacobean Style China Cabinet Cupboard Hutch Buffet

By B. Altman and Company 1

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Antique carved oak two doors Jacobean style china cabinet cupboard hutch buffet mint!

Category

20th Century American Jacobean Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Chestnut, Oak

Chinese Ming Style Alter Cabinet or Sideboard
Chinese Ming Style Alter Cabinet or Sideboard

Chinese Ming Style Alter Cabinet or Sideboard

Located in Kastrup, DK

Chinese Ming dynasty style altar cabinet or sideboard from Shanxi province, China.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Asian Ming Sideboards

Materials

Elm

Pair of 19th Century Chinese Scholars Cabinets
Pair of 19th Century Chinese Scholars Cabinets

Pair of 19th Century Chinese Scholars Cabinets

Located in New Orleans, LA

Pair of lacquered and decorated Chinese cabinets.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Cupboards

Stunning Pair of Red Lacquer Commodes by Michael Taylor for Baker, circa 1960
Stunning Pair of Red Lacquer Commodes by Michael Taylor for Baker, circa 1960

Stunning Pair of Red Lacquer Commodes by Michael Taylor for Baker, circa 1960

By Baker Furniture Company, Michael Taylor

Located in Atlanta, GA

These magnificent commodes are shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and completely installation ready. ...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Antique Shanxi Province Elm Cabinet with Hand Carved Arpon
Antique Shanxi Province Elm Cabinet with Hand Carved Arpon

Antique Shanxi Province Elm Cabinet with Hand Carved Arpon

Located in Chicago, IL

This Elmwood cabinet with original color and patina and hardware is from the Shanxi Province of China. It has carving details at the bottom with original lacquer.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Japanese Style Cabinet-Secretary Att. to Perret & Vibert, France, circa 1880
Japanese Style Cabinet-Secretary Att. to Perret & Vibert, France, circa 1880

Japanese Style Cabinet-Secretary Att. to Perret & Vibert, France, circa 1880

By Perret et Vibert

Located in PARIS, FR

The French artists won’t be long to take inspiration from those exotic and sumptuous objects for their creations, as they used to do in the 18th century, when the best French cabinet...

Category

Antique 1880s French Japonisme Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Shanxi Province Winged Elmwood Sideboard
Antique Shanxi Province Winged Elmwood Sideboard

Antique Shanxi Province Winged Elmwood Sideboard

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique Shanxi province winged elmwood sideboard This elmwood winged sideboard with original brown lacquer and patina has 4 drawers, 4 shelves, and 4 doors.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood, Elm, Lacquer

Antique Shanxi Province Elmwood Open Shelf Display Bookcase with Original Brown
Antique Shanxi Province Elmwood Open Shelf Display Bookcase with Original Brown

Antique Shanxi Province Elmwood Open Shelf Display Bookcase with Original Brown

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique Shanxi Province Elmwood open shelf display bookcase with original brown lacquer This bookcase has 3 shelves and 4 drawers at the bottom. Can be used as a bookcase or use it ...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Wood, Elm, Lacquer

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Wood Dresser Attributed to Francesco Bolgiè
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Wood Dresser Attributed to Francesco Bolgiè

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Wood Dresser Attributed to Francesco Bolgiè

By Francesco Bolgié

Located in IT

The red color cinnabar deliberately recalls the characteristic Chinese lacquer, at the time much loved for the decorations to cineseria furniture.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Dressers

Materials

Giltwood, Wood

Louis XVI Style Neoclassical Commode in the Manner of Riesener, circa 1890
Louis XVI Style Neoclassical Commode in the Manner of Riesener, circa 1890

Louis XVI Style Neoclassical Commode in the Manner of Riesener, circa 1890

By Jean-Henri Riesener

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

This geometric equivalent of the inlaid brass and tortoiseshell work of André-Charles Boulle; this distinctive device adopted by Riesener was ultimately derived from loose interpreta...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Antique Shanxi Province Original Hand Painted Elmwood Sideboard
Antique Shanxi Province Original Hand Painted Elmwood Sideboard

Antique Shanxi Province Original Hand Painted Elmwood Sideboard

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique Shanxi province original hand painted elmwood sideboard This Antique Sideboard from the Shanxi Province of China has its original paintings and lacquer.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Paint, Lacquer, Elm, Wood

Apothecary /  Medicin Chest of Drawer
Apothecary /  Medicin Chest of Drawer

Apothecary / Medicin Chest of Drawer

Located in Kastrup, DK

Medicine chest in original red lacquer with 40 drawers. with Chinese calligraphy in lacquer.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Furniture

Materials

Elm

Two-Toned Wooden Cabinet with Brass Hardware and Five Storage Drawers
Two-Toned Wooden Cabinet with Brass Hardware and Five Storage Drawers

Two-Toned Wooden Cabinet with Brass Hardware and Five Storage Drawers

Located in Yonkers, NY

The proportions are balanced, the joinery precise, and the overall lacquered finish polished but not overly glossy. Whether placed in a bedroom, dining room, or hallway, this Chines...

Category

20th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Large 19th Century Qing Dynasty Tapering Cabinet with Accordion Doors
Large 19th Century Qing Dynasty Tapering Cabinet with Accordion Doors

Large 19th Century Qing Dynasty Tapering Cabinet with Accordion Doors

Located in Yonkers, NY

Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this lacquered cabinet features a tapering silhouette complimented by a dark reddish brown finish.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Qing Dynasty Period Armoire Cabinet with 14 Drawers and Two Doors, 1900s
Qing Dynasty Period Armoire Cabinet with 14 Drawers and Two Doors, 1900s

Qing Dynasty Period Armoire Cabinet with 14 Drawers and Two Doors, 1900s

Located in Yonkers, NY

The various drawers and doors showcase clean geometrical shapes, evoking traditional Chinese screens. Retaining its original brown light brown lacquer contrasted by darker edges, the...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Wood

Antique Shanxi Province Tall 2 Drawer Elmwood Cabinet
Antique Shanxi Province Tall 2 Drawer Elmwood Cabinet

Antique Shanxi Province Tall 2 Drawer Elmwood Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique Shanxi Province tall 2 drawer Elmwood cabinet This tall cabinet has 2 drawers located at the bottom apron and 2 shelves. The cabinet also has a removable hanging bar. This ...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

HENREDON Bar Buffet Asian Goat Skin
HENREDON Bar Buffet Asian Goat Skin

HENREDON Bar Buffet Asian Goat Skin

By Henredon

Located in Lake Worth, FL

For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...

Category

Vintage 1980s Chinese Chippendale Buffets

Materials

Wood

Antique Side Cabinet with Carved Panels, Gilt Accents and Hidden Drawers
Antique Side Cabinet with Carved Panels, Gilt Accents and Hidden Drawers

Antique Side Cabinet with Carved Panels, Gilt Accents and Hidden Drawers

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese antique side cabinet from the early 20th century with brown lacquer, carved panels, gilded accents, hidden drawers and brass hardware.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Elmwood Cabinet with Brass Medallion and Three Drawers for Versatile Storage
Elmwood Cabinet with Brass Medallion and Three Drawers for Versatile Storage

Elmwood Cabinet with Brass Medallion and Three Drawers for Versatile Storage

Located in Yonkers, NY

An elmwood cabinet with brass hardware, two upper doors, and three lower drawers. This tall, rectilinear form features clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a timeless silho...

Category

20th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Qing Dynasty 19th Century Side Cabinet with Fretwork Shelf and Doors
Qing Dynasty 19th Century Side Cabinet with Fretwork Shelf and Doors

Qing Dynasty 19th Century Side Cabinet with Fretwork Shelf and Doors

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period dark brown lacquer side cabinet from the 19th century with fretwork motifs, open shelf and double doors.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Paired 19th Century Wedding Cabinets
Paired 19th Century Wedding Cabinets

Paired 19th Century Wedding Cabinets

Located in New York, NY

A wonderful pair of 19th century tapered gilt painted wedding cabinets. Very good condition, stunning as a pair.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Antique Raised Panel Chest with Drawers
Antique Raised Panel Chest with Drawers

Antique Raised Panel Chest with Drawers

Located in New York, NY

Very nice patina to the red lacquer and paint work. Fujian China 1900 Side table, End table, Storage chest, blanket chest, lamp table are some of the many uses.

Category

Antique Early 1900s Chinese Qing Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Low Yellow and Black Cabinet with Three Door Paintings
Low Yellow and Black Cabinet with Three Door Paintings

Low Yellow and Black Cabinet with Three Door Paintings

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period long and large enfilade from the 19th century with black lacquer and hand-painted scenes, newly refinished with custom lacquer.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Buffets

Materials

Wood

Lovely Chinoiserie Bar Linen Cabinet Hand Painted
Lovely Chinoiserie Bar Linen Cabinet Hand Painted

Lovely Chinoiserie Bar Linen Cabinet Hand Painted

By Dorothy Draper

Located in Pemberton, NJ

Fabulous Chinoiserie hand painted linen chest or bar cabinet. We love the deep red lacquer finish with the hand painted landscape scenery. We also love the pierced solid brass hardwa...

Category

Vintage 1950s Chinese Chinoiserie Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Two-Toned Cabinet with Doors and Five Drawers with Etched Brass Hardware
Two-Toned Cabinet with Doors and Five Drawers with Etched Brass Hardware

Two-Toned Cabinet with Doors and Five Drawers with Etched Brass Hardware

Located in Yonkers, NY

This tall two-toned wood cabinet offers a balanced mix of refinement and utility, ideal for interiors that value clean lines and timeless craftsmanship. The upper section features a ...

Category

20th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Ming Dynasty Style 19th Century Red Rose Console Cabinet with Everted Flanges
Ming Dynasty Style 19th Century Red Rose Console Cabinet with Everted Flanges

Ming Dynasty Style 19th Century Red Rose Console Cabinet with Everted Flanges

Located in Yonkers, NY

The façade is flanked by carved spandrels, which add a decorative touch and create a striking contrast between the deep red rose tones of the lacquered wood and the golden hue of the...

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Ming Credenzas

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Painted Sideboard with Distressed Patina, Three Drawers, Two Doors
Vintage Painted Sideboard with Distressed Patina, Three Drawers, Two Doors

Vintage Painted Sideboard with Distressed Patina, Three Drawers, Two Doors

Located in Yonkers, NY

The wear of the patina adds character and depth, making this piece a striking focal point in any room. Its red lacquer on one side, a traditional Chinese finish, brings a vibrant co...

Category

20th Century Chinese Sideboards

Materials

Brass

Red Vintage Wooden Trunk with Square Brass Latch
Red Vintage Wooden Trunk with Square Brass Latch

Red Vintage Wooden Trunk with Square Brass Latch

Located in Yonkers, NY

A vintage Chinese red lacquer blanket chest from the mid 20th century with brass hardware and lateral c-scroll handles.

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Blanket Chests

Materials

Brass

Custom TV Display Cabinet
Custom TV Display Cabinet

Custom TV Display Cabinet

$9,900Sale Price|50% Off

Custom TV Display Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

This TV display cabinet is from China and was made from elmwood and lacquer, circa 2019.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Bookcases

Materials

Elm, Lacquer

Red Vintage Trunk with Yellow Inside Lining & Green Leaves on Back
Red Vintage Trunk with Yellow Inside Lining & Green Leaves on Back

Red Vintage Trunk with Yellow Inside Lining & Green Leaves on Back

Located in Yonkers, NY

Immerse yourself in the artful allure of this vintage Chinese red lacquer blanket chest from the mid 20th century.

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Blanket Chests

Materials

Brass

Qing Dynasty 19th Century Bookcase with Four Shelves and Dark Patina
Qing Dynasty 19th Century Bookcase with Four Shelves and Dark Patina

Qing Dynasty 19th Century Bookcase with Four Shelves and Dark Patina

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period lacquered bookcase from the 19th century, with four shelves, straight legs, carved apron and weathered patina.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Mid 20th Century carved hardwood cabinet
Mid 20th Century carved hardwood cabinet

Mid 20th Century carved hardwood cabinet

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Mid 20th century carved hardwood cabinet circa 1950. Large Chinese export hardwood cupboard which lends itself perfectly to having a rail added to the interior for use as a wardrobe...

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Cupboards

Materials

Hardwood

Late Qing Dynasty Side Cabinet with Hand Painted Flower and Bird Décor
Late Qing Dynasty Side Cabinet with Hand Painted Flower and Bird Décor

Late Qing Dynasty Side Cabinet with Hand Painted Flower and Bird Décor

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese late Qing Dynasty period side cabinet from the early 20th century, with hand painted flower and bird décor, two doors, ornate brass hardware, carved apron and custom lacquer.

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Buffets

Materials

Brass

Bamboo Sideboard with Fret Work Motif
Bamboo Sideboard with Fret Work Motif

Bamboo Sideboard with Fret Work Motif

Located in Greenwich, CT

Bamboo sideboard with geometric lattice work on two pairs of doors and sides, black lacquer top, excellent workmanship

Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Sideboards

Materials

Lacquer

RARE AND IMPORTANT ENGLISH STATIONERY GEORGE III 18th Century
RARE AND IMPORTANT ENGLISH STATIONERY GEORGE III 18th Century

RARE AND IMPORTANT ENGLISH STATIONERY GEORGE III 18th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

RARE AND IMPORTANT ENGLISH STATIONERY GEORGE III 18th Century in lacquered wood in shades of red. Decoration with gold chinoiseries representing birds, fantastic animals and pagodas...

Category

Antique 18th Century English Chinese Export Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

AMAZING ENGLISH STATIONERY BIN WITH LIFTING 18th Century
AMAZING ENGLISH STATIONERY BIN WITH LIFTING 18th Century

AMAZING ENGLISH STATIONERY BIN WITH LIFTING 18th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

AMAZING STATIONERY BIN WITH LIFTING English, 18th century. in lacquered wood. Gold decoration representing pagodas and river landscapes. Friezes with plant motifs. Lower body with ...

Category

Antique 18th Century English Chinese Export Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

Late Qing Dynasty Hand-Painted Cabinet with Floral Décor, Doors and Drawers
Late Qing Dynasty Hand-Painted Cabinet with Floral Décor, Doors and Drawers

Late Qing Dynasty Hand-Painted Cabinet with Floral Décor, Doors and Drawers

Located in Yonkers, NY

A late Qing Dynasty period hand-painted cabinet from the early 20th century with hand-painted floral décor, two doors and six drawers. This Qing Dynasty period cabinet is a captivati...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Wood

19th Century Qing Dynasty Elm Brown Cabinet with Brass Hardware and Carved Apron
19th Century Qing Dynasty Elm Brown Cabinet with Brass Hardware and Carved Apron

19th Century Qing Dynasty Elm Brown Cabinet with Brass Hardware and Carved Apron

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Qing dynasty period elm cabinet from the 19th century, with two doors, four drawers and carved apron. This striking 19th century Qing dynasty period elm cabinet captivates with its...

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Untitled (Red Door Coffer), c. 1900
Untitled (Red Door Coffer), c. 1900

Untitled (Red Door Coffer), c. 1900

Located in Chicago, IL

This early 20th-century coffer from Shanxi province has a streamlined design and plenty of rustic appeal. Originally configured to open from the top, the chest has been modified to o...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Modern Sideboards

Materials

Pine

19th Century Apothecary Case Box
19th Century Apothecary Case Box

19th Century Apothecary Case Box

$760Sale Price|20% Off

19th Century Apothecary Case Box

Located in New York, NY

19th Century Apothecary Box Case. Chinese Antique Apothecary Doctors Case. Composed of elm wood and pine, this case has seven drawers with brass pulls. Each drawer has a curtain ...

Category

Antique 1870s Chinese Qing Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Elm, Spruce

Red Vintage Trunk with Yellow Inside Lining & Blue Leaves on Back
Red Vintage Trunk with Yellow Inside Lining & Blue Leaves on Back

Red Vintage Trunk with Yellow Inside Lining & Blue Leaves on Back

Located in Yonkers, NY

Immerse yourself in the artful allure of this vintage Chinese red lacquer blanket chest from the mid 20th century.

Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Blanket Chests

Materials

Brass

Late Qing Dynasty Elm Sideboard with Carved Floral Vases, Doors and Drawers
Late Qing Dynasty Elm Sideboard with Carved Floral Vases, Doors and Drawers

Late Qing Dynasty Elm Sideboard with Carved Floral Vases, Doors and Drawers

Located in Yonkers, NY

A late Qing Dynasty period elm sideboard with carved floral vases, drawers, removable panels and doors. Rich with history and timeless charm, this antique sideboard embodies both fun...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Buffets

Materials

Elm

Early 20th Century Wooden Bookcase with Woven Rattan Shelves and Apron
Early 20th Century Wooden Bookcase with Woven Rattan Shelves and Apron

Early 20th Century Wooden Bookcase with Woven Rattan Shelves and Apron

Located in Yonkers, NY

A Chinese elm wood bookshelf from the early 20th century with rattan shelves and carved apron. Created in China during the early years of the 20th century, this elm wood bookshelf fe...

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Bookcases

Materials

Elm, Rattan

Sideboard from Shanxi Province, Late 18th Century
Sideboard from Shanxi Province, Late 18th Century

Sideboard from Shanxi Province, Late 18th Century

Located in Kastrup, DK

Sideboard crafted from walnut, featuring four drawers and a pair of double doors. The sides are adorned with carved scroll details. Expertly crafted, the piece retains traces of its ...

Category

Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards

Materials

Elm

19th Century carved elm sideboard
19th Century carved elm sideboard

19th Century carved elm sideboard

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Some obvious historical surface staining under the polish and lacquer.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards

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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