Chinese pharmacy furniture. Qing Dynasty, 19th century.

Chinese pharmacy furniture. Qing Dynasty, 19th century.
Lacquered wood.
Front drawer and shelf at the top.
Exhibits wear consistent with age and use.
Needs refinishing.
Measurements: 180 x 116 x 50 cm.

Qing Dynasty pharmacy chest or chest of drawers, with sideboard on the top. It consists of numerous front drawers, being those of the lower line of greater size, small those of the center and medium those of the upper row. They have ring handles set in radial chiseled plates. Each drawer bears the legend of the relevant drug type or pharmacological classification (in Chinese characters). The open shelf in the upper body is outlined with borders and scrolls of mixtilinear carving that introduce a decorative note. The piece of furniture rises on square section feet joined with a trimmed skirt. This is a special piece of furniture in its typology and for belonging to the Qing period. Qing furniture is characterized by its greater ornamentation and details compared to the more sober designs of the Ming dynasty. Qing craftsmen also incorporated more elaborate lacquering.