Old carved pine wood buffet – China, around 1900

This antique low buffet, carved from fir wood, is a Chinese piece with four doors featuring a bas-relief carved front and an overhanging top. It originates from north-west China, from the Qing dynasty, where mountain fir was carved with a chisel on solid boards. The geometric repertoire of this front — diamond lattice, quatrefoils, interlaced circles — refers to north-west China, the Hexi corridor, and the Tarim basin. It shares a vocabulary with the Islamic ornamentation of Silk Road cities, contrasting with the figurative decor of Han interiors. The case is made of solid fir, assembled with mortise and tenon joints. The thick top overhangs on the sides. Four panelled doors open to a compartmentalised interior, and the back is closed with vertical boards. The four panels alternate between diamond lattice quatrefoils and networks of interlaced circles, each framed at the top and bottom by short fluted friezes. A frieze of small leafy broken arches runs along the upper part, and the base repeats the lattice on a smaller scale. Green pigment remains in some grooves, a trace of lost polychromy. The fir has been left bare, in a very light honey tone, with the carving softened by generations of handling. The top shows open knots, gapped joints, and signs of use. The surface has not been restored. With a height of 63 cm, it serves as a low living room piece, television stand, or gallery item. The dense carving and light tone work well in minimalist and wabi-sabi interiors. Details. Dimensions: Length 182 cm – Depth 41 cm – Height 63 cm. Style: Carved Chinese. Materials and techniques: Fir wood; mortise and tenon assembly; bas-relief carving; remnants of green pigment. Place of origin: China. Period: Qing dynasty. Date of manufacture: Circa 1900. Condition / Observations: Good. Wear consistent with age and use.