Low oak wardrobe – Shandong, around 1900

Chinese low cabinet made of solid elm, originating from Shandong and dated around 1900. A functional storage piece, it sits between a Chinese provincial cabinet and a transitional piece, representative of provincial Chinese furniture from Shandong at the turn of the 19th to 20th century. In the living rooms and storage spaces of Chinese homes in Shandong at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, low cabinets served important decorative functions: they provided visible storage for textiles and precious objects, acted as strong visual elements under mirrors or paintings, and added architectural presence. The significant height — 112 cm — allowed for a visual impact. The width of 113 cm created a very stable square silhouette. The very compact depth — 40 cm — was ideal for spaces where depth was limited. Cabinets from Shandong with this proportion are quite rare. Details. Dimensions: Width: 113 cm Depth: 40 cm Height: 112 cm. Style: Provincial Chinese furniture from Shandong. Materials and techniques: Solid elm; traditional joinery without nails. Place of origin: Shandong, China. Period: Late 19th – early 20th century. Date of manufacture: Around 1900. Condition / Observations: Good. Uniform, very warm original patina. Wear consistent with age and use.