A SMALL RED LACQUERED SQUARE-CORNER CABINET, FANGJIAOGUI (18487)
China, Shanxi Province, c. 1780’s
A small, red lacquered, square corner cabinet with a flush-fitting, paneled top, constructed in yumu (northern elm). The front red lacquer surfaces retain small amounts of its original pictorial. A pair of flush, floating panel doors open to reveal a single shelf with a small drawer. To install and remove the doors, a technique was employed whereby a groove the width of the pivot was sloped into the lower socket. The upper pivot is first installed with the door in the fully open position, the bottom of the door is raised to a point where the lower pivot clears the frame, and then the pivot slides back down the loped groove to its lower \ socket. This technique required precise workmanship, but resulted in a smooth, flush surface without hinges to complicate the design. Below the doors the front has a simple small apron with short spandrels on the sides. The square section corner posts continue down to form the legs. The doors have rectangular aged yellow brass faceplates, pulls and lock. (Restoration to lacquer surfaces / replacements to some brass)
23 ½” wide, 14” deep, 31 ½” high