Black Lacquer Taper Cabinet From Shanxi - 18th Century

The taper cabinet is one of Chinese furniture's most iconic designs. This graceful antique Chinese taper cabinet is from Shanxi province and dates to the Qing dynasty (1644€“1911) and the 18th century. This is a lovely original piece and it still has the original brass hardware. The internal lacquer has been applied onto gesso and cloth in the traditional way and the frames are taped. This high quality of workmanship began to disappear in China from the 19th century onwards indicating a good age. Cabinets like this one are also rare as many of these cabinets had their lacquer stripped due to lacquer deterioration. 

This style is of Chinese cabinet often called a round-corner, round leg cabinet, and the style was first seen in the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644). They were originally used as book cabinets by scholars and later, the style became more commonly used for the storage of clothes. 

The simple yet sophisticated design would function as an excellent drinks cabinet or storage cabinet and act as a counterbalance in any contemporary home. The interior consists of two shelves, one of which has two drawers attached. At the base two further drawers add additional storage. The kickboard has a wonderfully carved floral design with birds.

References:

Similar examples can be found in many books on Antique Chinese furniture including 'Chinese Furniture: A Guide to Collecting Antiques' by Mazurkewich - Fig. 349

Similar examples can be found in 'Traditional Chinese Furniture From The Greater Shanxi Region' by CL Ma - fig 115 & fig 120

From China

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