Antique Altar Coffer/Cabinet From Shanxi Province

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Shanxi furniture has a distinctive style that is unique. Shanxi is located in North Central China, a province that is … Read more Shanxi furniture has a distinctive style that is unique. Shanxi is located in North Central China, a province that is part of the cradle of early Chinese civilization. By the Ming Dynasty (CE 1368 to 1644) it was the land of stately homes belonging to rich merchants and bankers who furnished their living interiors with the best furniture Chinese craftsmen could offer. (Shanxi Bankers were the first to invent what we know of as the equivalent of the letter of credit. Traders could safely travel without fear of bandits robbing them of their gold and silver ingots.) Shanxi furniture is desirable because varieties of high quality wood for furniture were available – northern elm, walnut, locust, oak, laurel and cedar. These pieces of furniture exemplify the finest features of Chinese vernacular furniture – fine quality wood and craftsmanship. When the Manchu took over the rule of China in 1648, they brought a flamboyant style and flair for the extravagance. The furniture makers in Shanxi stood firm and carried on the Ming tradition of simplicity of style and elegance of taste. In addition, Shanxi furniture has a distinctive feature that is unique. People familiar with Chinese history will know that Shanxi province was occupied by non Han people for several dynasties - Tuobai Xianbei, Kitan, Jurchen and the Mongols, all nomadic people. Their influence is reflected in the designs of Shanxi furniture.

This altar coffer has an inset sides with spandrels that are repeated on the simple apron. It is made of elm, a semi-hard wood. The original finish is at the back of the coffer, and the front has been refinished. Each of the three top drawers has a mushroom like center design and accented with iron rivets that are a trademark of Shanxi furniture and a reflection of its nomadic past, as are the hand hammered drawer pulls. The rest of the drawers has floral motifs.

Similar coffers from Shanxi are dated to 19th century, but they are really much older according to Curtis Evarts who is the author of many books on Chinese furniture. In the entries of Shanxi furniture from the C.L. Ma collection, Mr. Evarts wrote extensively on the Shanxi coffers, of which some were dated to the 14th century. This coffer here has evidence of age judging from the back which has not been refinished. It is at least dated to the 18th century. See less