A tall Chinese armoire in black lacquer, painted across both doors with a landscape of pagodas, arched bridges, willows and mountains in soft green, red and gold. The scene runs from one door to the next, and the gilt has mellowed to a hazy, aged shine, most of all on the right. A fret border in red, green and gold, with small round characters, frames the front, and a lower panel shows painted scholar's objects: books and vases holding feathers. A shield-shaped brass plate with two ring pulls closes the doors.

At 45 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 72 inches tall, it holds a room. Stand it in a living room, an entry, a dining room or a bedroom, and let the doors work as a painting. Plain walls and a few warm woods suit it well. Inside there is room for linens, clothes or a bar, and the legs lift the whole piece clear of the floor.

Specifications

• Era: Antique, late Qing to Republic period
• Origin: China
• Material: Wood, black lacquer, painted decoration, brass hardware
• Size: 45"(W) x 25"(D) x 72"(H)
• Color: Black with green, red and gold painted decoration
• Condition: Used antique. Wear consistent with age & use, including worn lacquer and paint, especially on the right door, which is part of its character & historical value.

This antique Chinese black lacquer armoire has two doors painted with a pagoda landscape, a fret border, a lower panel of scholar's objects and a brass lock plate with ring pulls. It measures 45 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 72 inches tall. It suits a living room, an entry, a dining room or a bedroom.

Q&A
1. What is Chinese lacquer and how does it differ from paint?
Chinese lacquer is a coating made from tree sap, built up in thin layers that harden into a smooth, durable surface. Paint is a pigment in a binder and sits on top. Lacquer is often decorated with painted or gilded scenes, as on this armoire.
2. What do the scholar's objects and the fret border on a Chinese cabinet signify?
Books, vases and similar objects stand for learning, taste and the scholar's life. The fret border, a repeating geometric key pattern, stands for continuity. The round characters on the border are commonly wishes for long life and good fortune.

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**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio