Chinese buffet with two doors in Gansu pine – China, around 1930

Low buffet with two doors made of pine wood, originating from the Chinese province of Gansu and dated around 1930. A piece with balanced proportions and a simple design, halfway between a traditional low cabinet and a living room buffet, representative of provincial furniture from north-western China. Gansu, to the east of the Silk Road corridor, developed its own furniture tradition, more austere than the Beijing style but recognisable by its surfaces treated with lime or light pigment washes. Buffets like this one were placed in the main room of the house to store dishes, linens, and everyday utensils, occupying a central place in domestic life. It is constructed from local pine, with two doors on the front framed by a panel and post structure. The doors open on wooden dowel hinges and retain their original forged iron ring handles on simple plates. The top, made from a single piece, rests on a narrow cornice. All the joinery is assembled using traditional mortise and tenon joints, without nails or industrial glues. Details. Dimensions: Width: 110 cm Depth: 40 cm Height: 85 cm. Style: Chinese provincial furniture, late Qing dynasty – Republican period. Materials and techniques: Pine wood; panel and post structure; traditional mortise and tenon joints; original forged iron fittings. Place of origin: Gansu, China. Period: Late Qing dynasty – Republican period. Date of manufacture: Circa 1930. Condition / Observations: Good. Retains the patina and original fittings. Wear consistent with age and use, without invasive restoration.