Chinese Black Lacquer Wedding Cabinet From Shanxi - 19th Century

This dramatic antique Chinese black lacquer cabinet would make a great centerpiece in any room. It's decorated with faded giltwork which would once have depicted scenes from the countryside. Flowers can be seen in the lower panels. This style of panelled cabinet is often called a wedding cabinet and this particular piece is from a provincial area in Shanxi, Northern China. The interior consists of a large interior space separated by two shelves.

Lacquer cabinets were often given as wedding gifts - usually in pairs. Original pieces like this were not usually decorated on the sides and the better quality lacquer cabinets used elm wood. The lacquer is a resin made from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree. Lacquer has a long history in Chinese furniture and has been used for over 2000 years. Black lacquer is less commonly used than burgundy and red lacquers.