This antique low carved sideboard in fir wood features a front with dense geometric carving in flat relief and traces of vermilion red paint preserved in the relief. It originates from northwestern China, from the late Qing dynasty, where fir was worked using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery.
Carved furniture from northwestern China combined dense geometric carving with polychromy applied over the relief. Vermilion red paint over carving — common in sideboards, chests and tables — marked the hollows of the decoration and gave chromatic depth to the surface. Later wear has left a layered balance between wood, pigment traces and natural oxidation of the hardware.
The body is built in solid fir. The front face is entirely carved in flat relief with geometric diamond motifs, parallel lines and continuous borders. The internal structure is organised with two doors and horizontal cross-rails. The hardware is hand-forged iron. The construction is traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon, without metal fasteners.
The patina shows a layered aging. The vermilion red paint has worn on the most exposed areas revealing the raw fir in warm tones, while in the hollows of the relief the red pigments and traces of blue keep a softened saturation. The hardware presents stable oxidation.
With its 196 cm length and low 64 cm height, this sideboard works as an anchor piece in ample living rooms, bedrooms and entrances. As low cabinetry for television, its height allows hanging the screen above. It suits wabi-sabi, japandi, contemporary rustic and Asian-inspired interiors.
Details
- Dimensions: Length 196 cm – Width 40 cm – Height 64 cm
- Style: Qing Dynasty
- Materials and techniques: Solid fir; hand-forged iron hardware; traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery; dense geometric carving with traces of vermilion red paint.
- Place of origin: China
- Period: Late Qing dynasty / Early Republic
- Date of manufacture: Circa 1930
- Condition: Good. Worn vermilion red paint and dense geometric carving preserved. Wear consistent with age and use.
This piece is part of the curated collection of Amaru Antiques, Barcelona.
ONE OF A KIND PIECE
