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Subject:Old Cabinet Question
Posted By: Isabel Chang Tue, Nov 26, 2019 IP: 71.105.165.58
Hello knowledgeable folks here, I recently found this Chinese cabinet in rural Pennsylvania at an estate sale and just fell in love with it! I know it is in poor condition, super beat up, but I love it so much. I know my friends will be asking me where, what, when at my upcoming holiday housewarming party so I would love to be able to have *some* knowledge to impart besides, "I don't know" - an answer that always bored me the lack of intellectual interest in your surroundings - isn't that why we are antique and art history fans after all?

I've attached 3 photos, and I will list URLS to videos of the detail of the artwork on the panels in the hopes that someone could lend their expertise to my untrained eyes. I have no idea what kind of wood it is, the painting on the panels and all over appear to be handpainted (nothing looks exactly the same), and there are no phillips screws anyway! I know that much at least :)

Painting Detail Video 1: https://vimeo.com/375793186/a33c6ba730

Painting Detail Video 2: https://vimeo.com/375793143/17b7fe2e48

Painting Detail Video 3: https://vimeo.com/375793123/8b6eaff75e

Painting Detail Video 4: https://vimeo.com/375793098/2fd67919fc

The seller simply told me she found it at Broomfield Flea and that she thinks its late 1800 or early 1900. Again, I am not interested solely "how much is it worth" or even "is it authentic antique" - for the meager price I paid, I am simply happy it looks so amazing in my home and will certainly be a conversation piece.

Oh and one last thing, on the back of the cabinet wall interior, there is a signature. I was able to ask my grandmother (who was raised in Taiwan during the Japanese occupation so she is fluent in Japanese) - and she said its an old Japanese name. Any insight to this would be appreciated too! The cabinet appears Chinese in motif to me... but why a Japanese name inside?

Interested in hearing your theories, conjectures, and thoughts! Thank you all in advance!








Link :Painting Detail #1


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Subject:Re: Old Cabinet Question
Posted By: I.Nagy Wed, Nov 27, 2019
I read the Chinese cursive inscription,
安天保　-　Antienbao - Asking for blessing of Heaven
I think your grandma mistook the cursive 安 (an) for the Japanese hiragana あ (a)　

With regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Old Cabinet Question
Posted By: Isabel Thu, Nov 28, 2019
Aaah that would make more sense in chinese! My grandmother is 96 and very well could have misread that first character. Thank you!

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