Dongbei Sideboards

Vibrant and iconic, Dongbei sideboards are the archetypal red Chinese sideboard — perfect for homes seeking a pop of colour and cultural warmth. Originating in Manchuria at the turn of the 20th century, these striking cabinets combine bold lacquer finishes, gold detailing, and lively painted motifs that epitomise the artistry of northern China.

Produced throughout the first half of the 20th century, Dongbei sideboards are instantly recognisable for their brilliant red lacquer, auspicious motifs and brass lock plates. Many original pieces have been sensitively resized and restored to suit modern interiors, preserving their regional charm and craftsmanship while adapting them for functional use in Western homes.

Lacquer & Decoration: From Mineral to Modern Pigments

The earliest examples were finished using natural mineral pigments, notably cinnabar (朱砂), giving a deep, lustrous red with subtle translucency. As industrial pigments became available in the early 20th century, makers adopted synthetic reds that mellow over time into a distinctive orange tone. Every authentic Dongbei sideboard was originally red, often with gilded or hand-painted florals, birds, fish, and landscape scenes. The so-called “bleached” versions seen today are typically stripped pine pieces where the original lacquer was too damaged to retain, revealing the pale timber beneath. Other coloured versions (yellow, blue, grey, orange) are later 20th- or 21st-century re-lacquering.

Scale, Function & Adaptation

Traditionally used in domestic settings for storing bedding and household items, Dongbei sideboards often feature wide doors and a full-length internal shelf. Their generous proportions make them ideal statement pieces, and many have been thoughtfully resized for dining rooms, hallways and living spaces while retaining their original façades and patina.

Materials and Woods

All Dongbei sideboards were constructed from pine, a durable yet workable softwood perfectly suited to lacquered furniture:

• Pine, Pinus spp. (Songmu 松木) — the defining wood of Dongbei furniture, valued for its smooth surface, light tone and stability beneath multiple layers of lacquer.

Styling Your Dongbei Sideboard

With their bold colour and balanced proportions, Dongbei sideboards bring warmth and presence to both classic and contemporary interiors. Use a red lacquer piece to energise a neutral room or as a striking base beneath artwork or a mirror. Bleached pine examples offer a gentler interpretation of the same form — ideal for rustic or minimalist spaces that still seek a hint of Chinese heritage.