Tapered Cabinet, Black Lacquer spo-default our light elm herbalist chest

our light elm herbalist chest has drawers that are all made with dovetail joints and a simple brass ring pull on the front

these cabinets would have been given as part of a bride's dowry

Deeper and wider than our Ming chest of drawers it has a real sense of understated oriental style

They later became more common but were still reserved for the most important visitors and members of a household

while the large brass circular hardware adds some classic Chinese style

Tapered Cabinet, Black Lacquer spo-default our light elm herbalist chestCabinets like our black lacquer version were sometimes known as 'Scholars' Cabinets' as they were often used to store the books, papers or writing implements of the scholarly classes. The style of this Chinese cabinet, with its doors mounted on wooden dowels that fit directly into the frames and a slightly tapered profile, is one of the most ingenious designs to have been perfected during the Ming dynasty. The overall effect is one of balance and