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Two Door Cabinet

Chinese

Artwork Details

Two Door Cabinet
early 20th century
Chinese
blond rosewood (huali) with brass handles
4 ft. 6 15/16 in. x 30 3/4 in. x 17 1/4 in. (139.54 x 78.11 x 43.82 cm)
Gift of Marybelle B. Hanna
2001/1.345

Description

Subject Matter:

"The classic, tall, tapered, round-cornered cabinet encapsulates the essence of Ming style furniture. Its exposed framework, simple floating panels, minimal hardware, inward taper, and pronounced verticality create an impression of serene calm and balance. The legs [...] contribute a sense of lightness to a rather large volumetric form. As traditional Chinese homes did not have closets, cabinets and chests were necessary for the storage of clothing in bedroom settings.
Refined and elegant, the form relies on rounded corner stiles that splay slightly outward from the top, creating a feeling of balance and stability. The corner door rails have extended dowels top and bottom that fit into sockets in the upper and lower frame allowing the doors to pivot. This simple and ingenious device frees the body of surface-mounted metal hinges, contributing to the cabinet's clean lines and vertical emphasis."

Jacobsen, Robert D, Bruce B Dayton, Ruth Dayton, and Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Appreciating China: Gifts From Ruth And Bruce Dayton. Minneapolis, Minn.: Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2002, p. 300.

Physical Description:

A two door wooden floor cabinet with brass handles.

Usage Rights:

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