Details
Description
The credenza with this modern look does not look like a piece of Chinese furniture. But it was made in …
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The credenza with this modern look does not look like a piece of Chinese furniture. But it was made in Shanghai in the post 1900's period when western style houses were built for the comfort of foreigners and rich Chinese merchants alike who wanted to enjoy the ambience of modern homes. The City of Shanghai, once hailed as the Paris of the East, began after the Opium Wars in 1840's. China lost the war and signed the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, and Shanghai was designated as one of the Treaty Ports. Foreigners were then allowed to live and trade and business with the West grew and prospered and by the 1900's Shanghai was hailed as the largest City. Port in the Far East. Art Deco was the growing trend and many buildings in Shanghai still extant exhibit the simplicity of style and elegance. Western style homes were built, and Englishmen, Americans and other Europeans alike lived and worked and made money in Shanghai and enjoyed the same privileges as they would at home.( Empire in the Sun, a Steven Spielberg movie, took place in Shanghai at the eve of the Japanese occupation in WWII, accurately portrayed the wealth and live style of the Westerners in the city at that period.)
The walnut credenza has been expertly restored. It's simplicity of form and elegance of style reflects the art deco look with only the triple molding as accent. The triple molding is used on all the edges, both front and back. The lacquer finish shows off the beautiful grains of the wood. The drawers and open shelves afford good storage. Although the back of the credenza does not have the lacquer finish, it is still expertly done, and the piece can stand alone.
PS I was in Shanghai in November 2023 and stayed near the Bund, the riverside avenue with Beaux Arts and Classical Revival Architecture where worldwide commerce was once conducted. All the buildings are beautifully restored and furnished with copies of period furnishings. I was brought back in time!!!
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- Dimensions
- 78ʺW × 18.25ʺD × 32.49ʺH
- Styles
- Art Deco
- Period
- 1900 - 1909
- Country of Origin
- China
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Walnut
- Condition
- Good Condition, Restored, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Brown
- Condition Notes
- The beautiful finish is in good condition however, please note there are surface scratches on a portion of the surface … moreThe beautiful finish is in good condition however, please note there are surface scratches on a portion of the surface that do not show up in the photos. These scratches were caused by careless placements on sculptures on the table top. They do go into the surface and can be felt with finger tips. Due to the nature of the "French Polish" related finish, the scratches cannot be removed unless the finished is removed. These imperfections will be reflected in the price. Otherwise, there is a tiny separation on the top panel where the two pieces of wood were joined together. There is also a separation on the moving panel which opens and closes in winter and summer. Due to the humidity of Shanghai which is located on the same latitude as Miami, the years in a Chicago warehouse caused some shrinkage on the side panels. less
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