Antique low sideboard in elm wood, traditional Chinese furniture with distressed finish originating from Shanxi and dated circa 1920. Originates from Shanxi, in northern China, from the early 20th century, where local elm was worked using mortise-and-tenon joinery without nails, with fronts articulated in four doors and a shaped apron.
In the houses of northern China, horizontal low sideboards served as everyday storage furniture and as a support surface. When carrying a layer of light paint, this unified the chromatic reading of the piece; subsequent wear integrates it into the patina.
Built in solid elm using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, without nails. The front articulates four parallel doors with circular iron latch-style pulls, each resolved as a recessed panel with a moulded frame. The lower apron is shaped in an arch. The piece rests on four exposed square-section legs.
The patina retains a light and luminous tone, with the original paint heavily worn revealing the elm wood across broad areas, generating a natural distressed effect. The sheen is matte. The structure remains solid.
It fits naturally in wabi-sabi, minimalist with a light palette or contemporary rustic interiors. It works as a living-room sideboard, a bench-sideboard in a wide entrance or a horizontal console facing a sofa. The distressed finish gives it a different light from raw elm.
Details
- Dimensions: Length 178 cm – Width 40 cm – Height 60 cm
- Style: Chinese northern provincial furniture
- Materials and techniques: Solid elm, light paint distressed by use; mortise-and-tenon joinery without nails, four framed-panel doors, circular iron latch-style pulls, shaped apron
- Place of origin: Shanxi, China
- Period: Early Republic of China (circa 1920)
- Date of manufacture: Circa 1920
- Condition / Notes: Sound structure. Original finish heavily worn. Wear consistent with age and use.
This piece is part of the collection of Amaru Antiques, Barcelona.
ONE OF A KIND PIECE
