Vintage Asian Apothecary Chest, 20th Century

European Walnut Storage Chest, early 19th Century. An early chest with triple brass locks and hand-forged iron strap hinges.

Antique Lap Desk on Stand, 19th Century, England. A mahogany brass trimmed campaign style lap desk on later custom stand. Engraved brass plaq...

Antique Chinese Water Bucket, early 20th century. Cylindrical form with carved handle. Original iron fittings.

Chinese Rice Barrel with Lid, early 20th Century. Aged wood with metal and iron banding and handles.

This drawer shelf from the Taisho period combines Japanese style with modernity. This drawer shelf is particularly elaborate among those made in the Taisho period, and the complexit...

Medicine chest in original red lacquer with 40 drawers. with Chinese calligraphy in lacquer. These were used to store and organise Chinese herbs and the...

A Korean medicine or apothecary chest with curved leg support circa the first quarter of the 20th century. Known as Yakchang in Korea, the chest was used to sort and store herb medicines in its many small drawers. The prototype was originated in China, but this piece is distinctively Korean because of the classic style of the brass hardware. the configuration of the storage space in the lower part, the shape of the leg support and the wood paneling details. The upper part features thirty-six drawers with divided in six rows, each with a brass pull ring and two herb names in Hanja, carved and gilt. The lower part has a bi-door panels open to a storage compartment, which is flanked by four more drawers. Closer examination of the construction reveals that the frame and the drawers were made from Paulownia wood, which has an insect-repelling quality. The frame was painted and lacquered dark while the drawers remained natural. The front panels of the drawers and the doors were all made from Zelkova wood, showcasing its lovely linear dark grains. The interiors of the drawers are very clean and free of odor (have not been extensively used to store medicine). To compare with another Medicine Chest, see illustration on page 47 in "Korean Antique Furniture...

A Chinese Qing dynasty period apothecary chest from the 19th century, with 32 drawers and dark patina. Created in China during the Qing dynasty, this apothecary chest features a rect...