Shanxi circa 1870

This tall, elegant cabinet is from Shanxi and made from elm wood, still with the original black lacquer finish, now worn and aged to give a beautiful patina. The cabinet dates from the late 19th century and still has its old iron hardware on the doors. It is in the classic ’round cornered’ style that was particular to China, with an extended top sitting over rounded frames that taper up from the bottom to give a sense of upward movement. The doors are mounted with wooden dowels that slot into the top and bottom frames – a simple, ingenious design that gives a very pure, sleek look. The lacquer has worn so that on the doors the grain of the elm wood is just visible underneath, while around the feet the paler, natural colour of the wood has been revealed through wear. The interior is in a dark reddish brown, again the original colour, with a fixed shelf holding two drawers set centrally and two further removable shelves. The cabinet is in a classic design and highly original condition, and would be ideal today for storage in a bedroom or living space.