RARE ANTIQUE CHINESE QING DYNASTY SHANXI LACQUER GILDED PAINTED CABINET 18TH C

Description

GJPaw
Auctions is pleased to offer for sale a very rare antique Chinese Lacquered, Painted and Gilded Cabinet. It is beautifully crafted from decorated elm wood and originates from Shanxi province, famous not only for the fine furniture made there during the Qing dynasty, but also for
large lacquered cabinets which would be given as part of a wedding dowry.
This particularly fine red and black example is exquisitely decorated with foliate motifs, including highly auspicious lotus flowers, butterflies, a Buddhist ceremonial staff, together with the Chinese board game “
Go
” or “surrounding checkers” (
Weigi
).
A repetitive ornamental pattern of lines winding in S-forms
, known as Meander or thunder and cloud - yunwen or leiwen - adorns the front border and frames a triple double happiness symbol on the front lower panel, suggesting it was part of a dowry.
Indeed, the gilt ornamental patterns, painted nature motifs and auspicious symbolism indicate that this rare and highly collectible cabinet would have been part of a wedding dowry from an important and wealthy family. Happiness is very much the theme of the imagery shown, as well as the patterning, with the lotus flower symbolizing purity, the butterflies young love, the Buddhist staff a symbol of authority and the board game “
Go
” strategy in determining the parameters in any relationship. Thus symbolism and function combine with beauty and practicality in a way that was the true hallmark of Chinese antique furniture.
The cabinet is in very good used condition, with wear consistent to a dating from the mid-18th century.
Importantly, it is an intact, original period piece. The measurements are 46.75 inches in length by 22 inches deep by 72.5 inches in height (118.7 cm by 55.9 cm by 184.1cm). It has a fine provenance coming from an important U.S. mid-west collection. This is a rare, beautiful, timeless piece, presenting a unique opportunity for a collector of fine antique Chinese furniture and art.
The Chinese character for cabinet (
柜
)
consists of the wood radical and a three-sided frame enclosing the character preciousness. Literally, cabinets of China had been made of wood and were used for the containment of precious possessions. Their earliest form can be traced as far back as 433.B.C. Chinese cabinets were functional objects as well as works of art and came in various shapes, sizes, forms, and designs to hold a variety of objects, often in pairs symbolizing double happiness.
There are two main styles of large Chinese cabinets, their names derived from their contours: the square-corner cabinet and the round-corner cabinet (also known as the tapered or sloping-style, wood-hinged cabinet).
This example is a square-cornered cabinet, which has vertical sides, but atypically with the doors mounted on wooden pegs rather than metal hinges. The imposing size of the cabinet is softened only by the slight splay of the legs and the decorative lock panels on the front. The primary function of a square-corner cabinet was to store clothes
. The Western concept of an armoire or wardrobe cabinet did not exist in traditional China, as the Chinese would never hang clothes vertically inside a cabinet. Instead clothes and bed linens were laid flat, folded and stacked horizontally inside a chest or cabinet or hung on wooden racks, rather than vertically on hangers.
This is a showcase example of Chinese furniture featuring the most important artistic, decorative and functional aspects of Chinese culture and would be a centerpiece in any collection of Chinese antiques and furniture.
Additional images are available by request, and can usually be provided within 1 business day.
Standard international freight shipping is NOT included for this item.
Please inquire for freight quote, which will include custom crating and packaging, and International freight to your closest port, business or residential address. Additional shipping options, such as freight forwarding or white glove service can be added upon request.
GJPaw
Auctions has been in the Art business for over 25 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay.  Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the Globe at
Primitive
in Chicago.  Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add
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