Chinese Side Cabinet with 2 Doors

Stubby legs, a scalloped apron and doors that have clearly seen some years of knocking.

This side cabinet with 2 doors is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the mid 19th century. It is lacquered elm wood. Once China slowly opened to visiting diplomats and businessmen, a trickle of antique furniture leaving the country became a flood that lasted through the 1980s, the 1990s and into the early 2000s. Short cupboard with a slim overhanging top, two raised-panel doors closed by a simple metal bar latch, and a shaped apron cut with small curves and openings. Mellow brown finish with darker rubbed areas along the door frames. It is 21.5 inches long, 14.5 deep and 25.75 high.

Plainspoken, a little weathered, and gladly of use.