Small Chinese Antique Apothecary Cabinet With Front Closing Door

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This interesting apothecary/cabinet with many drawers and a sliding door and no legs or base is a puzzle. For what … Read more This interesting apothecary/cabinet with many drawers and a sliding door and no legs or base is a puzzle. For what purpose did it used to serve? I thought of two. Was it made for a herbalist who had to make house calls? The small size solves the mobility issue, and the drawers can store herbs usually wrapped individually in packages. The sliding door would keep the drawers tightly in place. The second was for an itinerary salesman who paid house calls. This cabinet could store small items like needles or embroidery floss, or small handkerchiefs or ribbons for the ladies and any kinds of small goods that he could sell. Whatever purpose it once had, it is still a useful piece of furniture for today's living. It could be for storing sewing notions, art supplies, stationery for the desk or herbs and spices for the kitchen.

The rectangular apothecary/cabinet has a deep mahogany finish that is commonly found in household furnishings of the Jiangnan area - Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhwei. It has the original patina, and there are small and large drawers that offer ample storage. The only ornamentation is the cloud like scroll framed three sides of the door. See less