Oriental Style Side Cabinet
An oriental style side cabinet brings rich lacquer and decorative motifs into a room, offering striking storage with distinct cultural influences.
Oriental Style Side Cabinet
An oriental style side cabinet encompasses low cupboards, chests on stands, and commodes finished with decorative motifs inspired by Eastern design traditions. These pieces draw on various periods, including Regency, Edwardian, and the early twentieth century, showing influences from Chinoiserie, Japonisme, and Chinese Export styles.
The most common examples on this page are lacquered side cabinets and cupboards from the early twentieth century, alongside nineteenth-century iterations. They range from black and red lacquered bedside lamp cabinets to larger marriage cupboards and chiffoniers.
Buyers also encounter related occasional tables, sewing tables, and commodes that share the same hardwood construction and lacquered finishes. Each piece serves primarily as a striking focal point for storage and display within a room.
Judging the quality of these cabinets
Quality rests in the depth and execution of the lacquer work and surface decoration. Finer examples display meticulous hand-painted details and well-preserved finishes without excessive craquelure or lifting.
Construction standards differ between standard production items and pieces by notable makers. Solid hardwood frames, substantial brass fittings, and stable internal cabinetry elevate a piece above simpler variants.
Listings span from the late eighteenth-century Regency period through the Edwardian era up to the 1930s, using wood, lacquer, brass, and marble.
Gabriel Viardot·Mercier Frères
The Oriental Style Side Cabinet Glossary
- Chinoiserie
- European interpretation and imitation of Chinese artistic traditions and motifs, popular in furniture decoration. It frequently employs lacquered surfaces and gilt figures.
- Japonisme
- The influence of Japanese art and design on Western works, emerging strongly in the late nineteenth century. It appears in bamboo furniture and asymmetry.
- Japanning
- A European form of finishing that mimics Asian lacquer using resinous varnishes and heat curing. It is typically found in black or cream tones with raised gilt decoration.
- Cinnabar
- A bright scarlet mineral form of mercurial sulphide used to colour lacquer carved in relief. Pieces feature deep, layered red carvings showing figures or landscapes.
Oriental Style Side Cabinet: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I place an oriental style side cabinet in a modern room?
These cabinets work well as standalone accent pieces in living rooms, hallways, or bedrooms where their decorative surfaces can stand out against neutral walls.
Their compact footprints make them useful for surface display and storage without dominating the surrounding furniture.
What is the difference between Chinoiserie and Japanese styles here?
Chinoiserie relies on European interpretations of Chinese motifs, often featuring raised gilt figures on black or red lacquer.
Japonisme incorporates direct influences from Japanese aesthetics, frequently utilising tiger bamboo, asymmetry, and naturalistic motifs.
How should I care for lacquered wood surfaces?
Lacquered surfaces require gentle dusting with a soft, dry cloth to prevent scratching the polished finish.
Avoid placing these cabinets in direct sunlight or near heat sources, which can cause the lacquer to dry out or crack over time.
Are these cabinets purely decorative or practical?
While highly decorative, these pieces provide functional storage through internal shelving, cupboards, and drawers.
They serve effectively as bedside tables, lamp tables, or small sideboards depending on the specific form.