Important cabinet. China, Qing Dynasty, circa 1720-30

Important Chinese cabinet; Qing Dynasty, circa 1720-30.
Rosewood with mother-of-pearl inlay.
Measurements: 141 x 152 x 56 cm.
An important Chinese invoice cabinet of the highest quality, dating from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), in the first half of the 18th century. The structure is of rosewood, organized from simple convex moldings and carved in the lower structure, where they appear, carved in bas-relief, masks and complete figures of dragons. The front and sides of the furniture are richly decorated with classic process marquetry that instead of wood uses pieces of nacre cut individually and embedded to compose delicate scenes of landscapes with figures. Some areas also appear quiet, with an intricate abstract design that evokes organic forms.
The furniture has a symmetrical structure organized in three streets, although this tripartite division is broken in the upper frieze, where the smaller boxes are located just above the lines that define the lower streets. The central street of the body is organized in three levels, in turn: lower and upper with partially closed doors and narrow central body, with a drawer and two blind side panels, square shape.
The side streets are the same with each other, with large doors that offer a wide decorative surface and drawers below (the rectangular panel of the top is a false drawer, belongs to the door). The sides of the furniture maintain this structured organization of the space, based on rectangles provided with each other, although they are blind panels. These panels are also decorated with mother-of-pearl marquetry, composing simpler motifs, with more open space, flowers and insects, typically oriental.