Gansu, circa 1920

This lovely old storage cabinet is in its original finish, the once bright colours now worn and faded to create a more rustic, nuanced look that would suit most interiors. The doors would have been in vibrant red, set within a carved moulding and thick outer frames in green and black in a style that is typical of Gansu province in western China. The unit would originally have been used to store grain, with the interior accessible only via the narrow removable board in the top. Unusually, this has been left loose rather than being sealed, but what was once a fixed panel in the front has been converted into two doors and a removable shelf added inside to create a more practical storage cabinet. The black lacquer on the top has worn and the wood aged and darkened, resulting in a beautiful patina that contrasts with the paler front. An unusual piece that oozes character, it would be ideal as a modern day sideboard or even as a TV stand.