Antique elm buffet with three doors – Shanxi, circa 1920

Antique buffet in solid elm with three doors, an absolutely prominent architectural presence, originating from Shanxi and dated around 1920. A functional piece for storage and display on a large scale, straddling the line between Chinese buffet and architectural transitional furniture, representative of early 20th-century northern Chinese furniture. In the main salons and representative spaces of Shanxi Chinese homes in the early 20th century, buffets served maximum decorative functions: they acted as display surfaces for precious collections, functioned as storage beneath galleries of paintings, and provided a visual presence without taking up excessive depth. The proportionate height — 76 cm — allowed for an absolute presence. The extraordinary width — 203 cm — created a very elegant silhouette. The very compact depth — 40 cm — was ideal for long galleries. Buffets from Shanxi of this scale are quite rare. Details. Dimensions: Width: 203 cm Depth: 40 cm Height: 76 cm. Style: Provincial Chinese furniture from Shanxi. Materials and techniques: Solid elm; traditional joinery without nails. Place of origin: Shanxi, China. Period: Early 20th century. Date of manufacture: Around 1920. Condition / Observations: Good. Original patina.