Antique Chinese Low Cabinets

A curated selection of low storage furniture — antique and modern pieces from China, Tibet, Mongolia and India — designed for balance, proportion and modern versatility. Ideal as AV units, low sideboards or bed-end cabinets, these pieces combine functional form with quiet artistry.

Kang Furniture & Cultural Origins

Developed in northern China to accompany the heated brick kang platform, kang cabinets and low tables were designed for seated living — their height, simplicity and horizontal emphasis expressing harmony between architecture and daily life. Crafted in northern elm (榆木 yúmù), cypress (柏木 bǎimù) and poplar 杨木 (yángmù), these compact cabinets stored bedding, scrolls and ceramics while serving as resting or dining surfaces. Their refined joinery and balanced form embody the quiet ideals of symmetry, restraint and natural beauty central to Chinese design.

Xinjiang & Western Regional Styles

In Xinjiang and the western provinces, low sideboards evolved a distinctive regional character shaped by Eastern Islamic influences. These pieces often feature chip carving, geometric patterning and polychrome floral panels, blending Chinese carpentry traditions with Central Asian decorative vocabulary. Brass fittings, stylised arches and painted motifs add rhythmic depth, while weathered pigments and soft patina lend authenticity and warmth.

Modern Use & Adaptability

Today, these low cabinets and sideboards transcend their original purpose to serve as elegant AV units, media stands or bed-end consoles. Their horizontal lines and natural materials bring calm proportion to modern interiors, pairing beautifully with plaster walls, stone and linen. Each piece carries a sense of stillness and history — a balance of function, craft and wabi-sabi imperfection.

Craftsmanship & Materiality

From lacquered cabinets from Gansu & Shanxi to carved Xinjiang sideboards each piece reflects skilled joinery and regional craftsmanship. Natural woods, mineral pigments and hand-forged hardware ensure durability and individuality — furniture that lives gracefully with time.