Shanxi, circa 1860

This lovely storage cabinet has a warm, natural colour which shows off the deep grain of the elm wood. The top section has beautifully carved lattice doors incorporating open carvings of an eternal knot and a svastika (sacred Buddhist symbol) in the fixed panel at each side. The cabinet is from Shanxi in central China and has panels inset into rounded frames – a common feature of furniture from the region. The wood itself is beautifully figured, with the two main door panels complementing each other with their mountain like grain. Once used to store books and documents, the cabinet would work wonderfully in a kitchen or living area for storage.