Closet; China, Qing dynasty, late 19th century.

Cabinet; China, Qing dynasty, late 19th century.
Jumu (elm) wood.
It shows wear on one of the sides.
Measurements: 179 x 147 x 56 cm.
This cabinet is made of Jumu (elm) wood, a material highly valued for its hardness, stability and natural elegance. The cabinet shows a dark and deep patina that highlights the grain of the material.
The cabinet has a rectangular shape of harmonious proportions, with two large front doors framed by finely carved moldings and supported by a base of three horizontal drawers. The decoration, carved in bas-relief directly on the wood, is concentrated on the door panels, where symmetrical compositions of objects arranged on tables or altars are represented: vases with flowers, fruit branches, incense burners and ritual utensils. In the left panel the ornamentation is probably alluding to the "four treasures of the scholar": brush, ink, paper and stone.