Chinese Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet - 19th Century

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. The story is that these are called wedding cabinets as they were presented to a bride and groom at their wedding. This may be an apocryphal story.

According to historic records, lacquer furniture was historically fifteen times more expensive than hardwood furniture which is now highly valued by collectors.

The vibrant red lacquer which is made from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, makes a striking background for intricate designs showing social scenes adorned with gold leaf. The art of lacquering furniture has existed in China for over 2000 years.

Inside the cabinet are two sturdy shelves coated in a dark paint. The dark interior gives a striking contrast to the brightly coloured outer cabinet. Two drawers at the base add additional storage.