Chinese Petite Fujian Lacquer Cabinet, C. 1900

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The bold lacquer, paneled front and gilt carvings of this small bedside cabinet exemplify the early 20th-century furniture from Fujian, … Read more The bold lacquer, paneled front and gilt carvings of this small bedside cabinet exemplify the early 20th-century furniture from Fujian, China. Petite in scale, the cabinet may have been used atop a kang platform or as part of a suite of furnishings in a woman's private quarters.

In the Fujian fashion, the double doors are inset with cartouche panels of gilt carvings against black lacquer. The upper panels depict a crab and a fish, symbols of harmony, and the lower depict peach blossoms and bamboo stalks, symbols for longevity. The doors open by brass pulls in the shape of flower baskets to reveal a simple interior with a single shelf. See less