Early 20th C Chinese Cabinet with Original Lacquer and Cabriole Legs

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Early 20th C Chinese Cabinet with Original Lacquer and Cabriole Legs

About the Item

A rare all-original Chinese antique two-door clothing armoire with original brass lock plate and drawer pulls. The gently aged and patinated oxblood lacquer is fully intact, still protecting the solid elm wood doors and frame. This piece has great character and makes a powerful connection to the distant past; it is a true "time traveler." A note on the finish: oxblood lacquer was often used lieu of black lacquer (or cinnabar red) when the underlying wood grain was beautiful. This is most visible on the beautifully-grained elm wood door fronts. Oxblood, which is made from mixing natural tree with and animal blood, produces a semi-opaque reddish-brown lacquer. Initially it is brighter and then darkens gradually with time, as soot in the air subtly mixes with the lacquer. Modern lacquers are inert and do not mature in this way. The piece has a flat-fronted, minimalist design that mixes exceptionally well with starkly contemporary interiors. The doors hinge on wooden pins, which are hidden from view. The hinge pins had worn down with age and have been replaced to return the piece to proper function. As with all genuinely vintage or antique Chinese furniture, the joinery is by mortise and tenon. That is, the vintage piece was assembled with sophisticated wooden joints that are secured without nails. The piece contains no wood veneer or other substitutions. In our experience, cabinets of this type were often made in pairs and were used for all kinds of storage. It is from the Shandong peninsula in north east China.

Dimensions:
Height: 45.25 in (114.94 cm)Width: 34 in (86.36 cm)Depth: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)
Style:
Qing (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Elm,Lacquered
Place of Origin:
China
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1900
Condition:
Additions or alterations made to the original: The piece has replaced lower hinge pins on the doors and a thin sealer coat applied to the surface. Prior to shipment to the buyer, it will receive a coat of beeswax to all exposed surface areas. The beeswax produces a soft, understated sheen. Wear consistent with age and use. Many Chinese antique cabinets have new brass lock plates --this one is original. During the Great Leap Forward of the 1950's, much metal hardware was removed from rare and antique Chinese furniture and melted down to meet industrial metal demands.
Seller Location:
Chicago, IL
Reference Number:
Seller: 22T010641stDibs: LU886431241342