Gansu, circa 1930

This gorgeous sideboard is in a lovely palette of soft blues and creams, with floral decoration picked out in reds, pinks and yellows. It was produced in Gansu province in western China in the early 20th century, where it would have been used originally to store grain. Each door would once have been a fixed panel, now modified for more practical use today. The flowers include peonies and lilies – symbols in Chinese culture for high rank and good fortune. With  a single shelf inside each of the three internal sections, the sideboard offers generous storage in a dining room or living space.