Lattice Kitchen Cabinet

This provincial lattice cabinet from the early 20th century was once used in a rural Chinese kitchen to store dishware, baskets and other kitchen supplies. Crafted of cypress with traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, the tall cabinet has a lightweight design with plenty of storage, including two interior pinewood shelves, three drawers and two slatted lower shelves. Time has enhanced the beautiful, golden-yellow color of cypress, now speckled with imperfections and finished with a protective clear coat.

The cabinet is faced with lattice panels designed to imitate traditional bamboo furniture, an element also seen in Chinese Chippendale cabinetry. The upper compartment opens by four doors inset with geometric latticework in a diamond formation, while the lower shelves are fronted with sliding lattice doors and enclosed with wooden slats. Today, this charming kitchen cabinet adds wonderful color and pattern to modern interiors as a linen press, cupboard or bookcase.