Antique multi-drawer pine furniture – China, circa 1930

This antique multi-drawer pine wood piece features a grid of 15 drawers in total, with forged iron ring handles and a central forged lock. It originates from northern China, dating from the end of the Qing dynasty, where pine was crafted using traditional mortise and tenon joinery. Multi-drawer furniture from northern China was used in traditional pharmacies, shops, and affluent homes to organise medicinal herbs, spices, grains, and small household items. The regular grid of drawers allowed for clear functional organisation, and the central lock protected the most valuable contents. This typology belongs to the civil registry of domestic furniture from the late Qing period. The body is constructed from solid pine. The front is arranged in a grid of three rows with a total of 15 drawers, each with a circular forged iron handle secured by a rivet. At the centre of the upper band is a forged lock with an applied decorative escutcheon. The sides are solid, and the feet extend at right angles to the ground. The joinery is traditional Chinese mortise and tenon, without screws. The patina retains a warm brown tone with the grain of the pine clearly visible. The surface of the top shows the natural pattern of the wood with slight signs of use: small longitudinal cracks, softened corners, and a façade with a lighter patina in frequently handled areas. The central lock has oxidised steadily and retains its escutcheon. The fittings show natural oxidation. Details. Dimensions: Length 190 cm – Depth 45 cm – Height 83 cm. Style: Qing Dynasty. Materials and techniques: Solid pine; forged iron fittings; central forged lock; traditional Chinese mortise and tenon joinery. Place of origin: China. Period: Late Qing Dynasty / Early Republic. Date of manufacture: Circa 1930. Condition / Observations: Good. Warm patina with signs of use.