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This type of
cabinet is called "Zhushan" which literally
means seated box. In Chinese carpentry, a
box is different than a cabinet. A cabinet
has legs while a box or chest does not.
Since a large box such as this type of
seated box was made to stand by itself, a
base is built so that the box can be
elevated a little from the floor to protect
the box better from humidity. This red
lacquer box has a flush top and sides. The
board panels are held together by the use of
tongue and groove joinery construction. The
paintings have been mostly worn off. The
front is decorated with metal work, the
waist is decorated with elongated begonia, a
symbol of prosperity, and the base is
decorated with the symbolic trailing plants
and cusped in the middle. This design is
very typical of Northern furniture.
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