Gilt Black Lacquer Chinese Export Table Cabinet - Early 19th Century

This exquisite gilt black lacquer chinoiserie table cabinet was crafted in Canton between 1820€“1840 during the Qing dynasty. This piece is unsually small for a Canton export table cabinet. Designed for the export market, it embodies the refined artistry that captivated wealthy Georgian and American collectors in the early 19th century. The cabinet is richly decorated in gilt against a deep black lacquer ground, depicting idyllic landscapes, pavilions, and figures in the classic Canton style. Comes with a key. 

The cabinet opens to reveal an arrangement of drawers, each adorned with intricate scenes and fitted with its original handles. Pieces such as this were treasured luxury goods, fragile and finely made, and are rarely found in such outstanding condition today. Comparable export wares included sewing boxes, games boxes, and tea caddies, and sewing tables. Other similar pieces can be found in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem.

• Origin: Canton, China
• Date: 1820€“1840
• Materials: Gilt and black lacquer on Chinese swamp cypress wood.
• Features: Chinoiserie decoration with landscapes and figures; multiple drawers concealed behind doors
• Condition: Exceptional, with minimal wear compared to most surviving examples
• Dimensions: W29 x D19 x H32 cm
• Further Reading: See The Decorative Arts of The China Trade by Crossman