Two-body cabinet; China, Qing dynasty, c. 1880.

Two-body cabinet; China, Qing dynasty, c. 1880.
Jumu (elm) wood lacquered in red and gold.
It has slight flaws in the polychrome.
Measurements: 233 x 109 x 54 cm.
This cabinet of two bodies, from China and dated around 1880 during the Qing dynasty, is made of Jumu (elm) wood, a material appreciated for its durability and fine grain, the furniture has been coated with a red and gold lacquer of extraordinary quality, a technique that requires multiple layers polished to achieve a bright and resistant finish.
The cabinet has a vertical structure with two bodies: the upper, smaller one, composed of two doors, and the lower, larger one, also closed by a pair of leaves. Each of these surfaces is profusely decorated with landscape scenes and human figures in gilded relief, narrating episodes of courtly and rural life, integrating traditional architecture, gardens, bridges and pavilions under a serene horizon.
The openwork frieze that separates the two bodies, finely carved with floral and zoomorphic motifs, is evidence of the master craftsmanship achieved during the second half of the 19th century in the region's cabinetmaking workshops.
The figurative scenes that decorate the doors of this cabinet are one of the most notable elements of its aesthetic and symbolic composition. These representations narrate episodes that evoke the idealized life of traditional China, combining human figures, architecture and landscape.