Red and Gold Qinghai Painted Cabinet

Qinghai, circa 1900 The deep red lacquer and gold paintings on this gorgeous old cabinet give it a rich, luxurious feel that would add warmth and character to any interior. The cabinet is from Qinghai province in western China and the cinnabar red lacquer and painted detail is a ...Qinghai, circa 1900 The deep red lacquer and gold paintings on this gorgeous old cabinet give it a rich, luxurious feel that would add warmth and character to any interior. The cabinet is from Qinghai province in western China and the cinnabar red lacquer and painted detail is a common feature of furniture from the region.

The cabinet is made from pine, with solid, chunky frames and a slight overhang to the top. The original thick lacquer has worn around the outer front frames and lower part of the doors to show the natural wood colour underneath. The top of the cabinet was originally finished in black as a contrast to the red front, but has worn over the years to leave only traces over the wood.

The cabinet's doors fit directly on wooden dowels into the frames above and below, doing away with the need for metal hinges and providing a large canvas for the decorative paintings on the doors. The paintings themselves are in a dark, old gold that perfectly contrasts against the dark red background. They show various curios and personal items - bronzes, pots and vases that symbolised the wealth and status of the owner.

The delicately shaped hardware on the doors is old. This is a quite rare and unique piece that is nicely proportioned for any space as a wonderful accent piece.