Antique Chinese Painted Pine Side Cabinet with Mustard Lacquer, Late Qing

A small-scale Chinese provincial cabinet built in pine with a single top drawer over a pair of two-door cupboards, finished in a saturated mustard-yellow lacquer over a red ground that breaks through at the corners, edges, and wear points. The top retains its original cinnabar-toned lacquer, scuffed and patinated from generations of use. Iron ring pulls hang from cast lock-plate mounts at the drawer and each door. Recessed sled feet, a low base rail, and slightly tapered stiles give the form its characteristic Chinese country profile.

Cabinets of this type were made across northern and central China through the late Qing and early Republic periods as everyday storage for clothing, household goods, or shop wares. The layered paint history — red beneath mustard — is typical of pieces that were refreshed during their working life, and the resulting patina is exactly what collectors of Chinese country furniture look for. The interior has been refinished in a dark walnut tone and fitted with a single removable shelf and modern magnetic catches for practical use.

CONDITION

Good with age-appropriate wear throughout. Paint loss and abrasions reveal the red underlayer at edges, corners, and high-contact areas; the top shows scuffing and minor scratches consistent with long use. More recent magnetic closures have been added inside the cabinet doors; interior is refinished. Drawer and doors operate properly.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 24.5" H × 18" W × 12" D
• Interior Shelf Height: 10"
• Construction: Solid pine with painted/lacquered finish
• Hardware: Iron ring pulls; modern magnetic door catches
• Includes: One removable interior shelf
• Campbell's Soup Can (4" H) Shown for Scale — Not Included