Antique painted pine wardrobe – China, circa 1920

This antique wardrobe, painted in pine wood, features two doors with interior compartments and a lower panel painted with a basket of flowers and auspicious calligraphy. The surface is painted in ochre yellow with floral patterns and the ideogram shou (壽, longevity). It originates from northern China, from the late Qing dynasty, where the pine was crafted using traditional mortise and tenon joinery. Painted furniture from northern China had both ritual and decorative functions: ochre yellow was an auspicious colour associated with domestic prosperity, and floral motifs with baskets or vases were linked to wishes for fortune and harmony. Vertical two-door cabinets were placed in main rooms and bedrooms to store clothing, textiles, and household items. The body is constructed from solid pine. The front is divided into two identical doors with a peripheral frame and a decorated central panel. Below the doors, a lower panel extends the painted decoration with a basket of flowers. The interior is organised with a middle shelf and a high crossbar. The fittings are made of wrought iron with a central latch. The assembly is traditional Chinese mortise and tenon, without screws. Details. Dimensions: Length 123 cm – Depth 62 cm – Height 162 cm. Style: Qing Dynasty. Materials and techniques: Solid pine; wrought iron fittings; traditional Chinese mortise and tenon joinery; painting on an ochre yellow background with floral patterns and auspicious calligraphy. Place of origin: China. Period: Late Qing Dynasty / Early Republic. Date of manufacture: Circa 1920. Condition / Observations: Good. Original ochre yellow paint preserved with wear revealing the pine. Wear consistent with age and use.