19th Century Chinese Tall and Narrow Cabinet

This very fine 19th century cabinet from Northern China is made of ironwood. Iron wood, known in Mandarin as Tieli and prized by collectors, comes from the tallest Chinese hardwood tree and is very durable with a coarse texture and distinctive open grain. This substantial cabinet projects quiet harmony and balanced tension among its austere construction, rich timber, and thoughtfully placed handmade white brass hardware...

Crafted of elm with a dark lacquer finish, this small locking cabinet from the mid-19th century embodies the refined simplicity of Ming-dynasty furniture. Following the design of tra...

This lacquered display cabinet from Shanxi province was crafted in the mid-19th century using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery methods. The enclosed lower half was used for general storage and the open upper shelf was used to display precious objects such as vases, curios, or piles of books. The exterior is darkened by a black lacquer finish and hand-painted with charming decorative motifs, including bronze censers, flower vases, scrolls, and scholars' objects. Original brass hardware secures the doors, now richly aged with a smooth patina and subtle oxidation. Unusual for its smaller scale, we love this painted cabinet in a children's bedroom or playroom as an unexpected bookcase or toy chest...

This lacquered display cabinet from Shanxi province was crafted in the mid-19th century using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery methods. The enclosed lower half was used for gene...