Southern Chinese red lacquer and elm marriage cabinet. Circa 1840

Wonderful and original red lacquered elm marriage cabinet circa 1840. Probably from the Southern regions of China. This is an exceptionally good quality antique Chinese red lacquer wedding cabinet with original locks and hinges. Lacquer cabinets were often given as wedding gifts, often in pairs. Better quality cabinets like this one are made from elm.

Lacquer has a long history in Chinese furniture and has been used for over 2000 years. It is a resin made from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, burgundy lacquer is most common, then red, and black is much less common.