Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet From Shanxi -19thC

This red lacquer wedding cabinet is decorated with gilt maki-e work. Chinese Red lacquer cabinets like these are nearly exclusively from Shanxi province in Northern China. They were made for scholars and wealthy homeowners. They would have stored bedding, clothes scholarly objects and valuables. 

These cabinets are commonly known as Wedding Cabinets in the West, a term coined by Western antique dealers. The purported origin of these cabinets is the practice of gifting them to newlyweds on their wedding day. This story is almost certainly apocryphal. 

The vibrant red lacquer which is made from the sap of the rhus verniciflua tree, makes a striking background for intricate floral designs adorned with gold leaf. These cabinets would have been incredibly expensive and time consuming to create. According to historic records, lacquer furniture was historically fifteen times more expensive than hardwood furniture which is now highly valued by collectors.

Inside the cabinet are two sturdy shelves coated in a dark lacquer. The dark interior gives a striking contrast to the brightly coloured exterior.