This antique painted sideboard in pine wood features two doors with pictorial panels of peonies in red and turquoise over a cream ground, framed by vertical borders on each side. It originates from northwestern China, from the late Qing dynasty, where pine was worked using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery.
Painted furniture from northwestern China is recognised by its light palette — cream and off-white grounds — and by the recurring presence of the peony as a motif. The peony (mudan 牡丹), queen of flowers, symbolised wealth and honour; painting it on domestic fronts was a daily act of good auspice. This type of two-door sideboard with painted panels appears in houses across the oases of the Hexi corridor.
The body is built in solid pine. The front is divided into two identical doors with a perimeter frame and a painted panel at the centre. Vertical borders painted with vegetal motifs in yellow and green run along each side of the doors. The lower apron preserves traces of a painted landscape in soft tones. The pulls are circular brass. The construction is traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon, without metal fasteners.
The painted compositions show pink and red peony (mudan) sprays over turquoise vegetation, with loose black brushstrokes. The palette combines cream, pink, vermilion red, blue-green and black. The yellow vertical borders add a graphic accent that frames each panel. The floral iconography belongs to the domestic repertoire of good auspices.
The paintwork shows soft wear that preserves the overall reading of the decoration. The pigments have softened and let the pine grain show through in places. The patina of the apron keeps the muted pastel tones characteristic of natural aging over soft wood. The whole has been kept in continuous use.
With a contained length of 165 cm and a height of 86 cm, this sideboard fits easily in medium living rooms, entrances and dining rooms. It works as a central decorative piece or as low storage. It brings a soft chromatic note to wabi-sabi, japandi, contemporary rustic and Asian-inspired interiors.
Details
- Dimensions: Length 165 cm – Width 45 cm – Height 86 cm
- Style: Qing Dynasty
- Materials and techniques: Solid pine; brass hardware; traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery; painting over cream ground with peony motifs.
- Place of origin: China
- Period: Late Qing dynasty / Early Republic
- Date of manufacture: Circa 1930
- Condition: Good. Original paintwork and patina preserved with soft wear. Wear consistent with age and use.
This piece is part of the curated collection of Amaru Antiques, Barcelona.
ONE OF A KIND PIECE
