Chinese Classical Furniture

Chinese Classical Furniture

Classical Chinese furniture has a timeless appeal that never goes out of style. Our signature range of traditional Chinese furniture is handcrafted from reclaimed elm or poplar wood, and includes reproductions from China's golden age as well as more contemporary designs inspired by the same period. The range includes oriental cabinets, beautifully crafted chairs, Chinese blanket chests and much more.

Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,895.00

Chinese Wedding Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW21B

Our reproduction wedding cabinet looks exceptionally striking in the black lacquer. According to Chinese tradition cabinets like these would at one...

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£1,895.00
Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, Red Lacquer
£1,895.00

Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, Red Lacquer

CW21R

This beautiful red lacquer wedding cabinet is made from solid poplar wood. Traditionally in China, large cabinets or armoires like this were presen...

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£1,895.00
Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, Cream Lacquer
£1,895.00

Lacquer Wedding Cabinet, Cream Lacquer

CW21C

Traditionally filled with silks, fabrics or clothes, these cabinets would have been given as part of a bride's dowry. This stunning cream version o...

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£1,895.00
Television Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,795.00

Chinese Television Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW16N

Our warm elm version of this ingenious cabinet uses the design elements of classic Chinese furniture to solve a very modern problem. Ideal to hide ...

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£1,795.00
Television Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,795.00

Chinese Styled Television Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW16D

Our TV cabinet looks stunning in black lacquer, designed in a way so as to solve the problem of hiding away the TV when not in use. This cabinet ha...

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£1,795.00
Horseshoe Armchair, Warm Elm
£625.00

Horseshoe Armchair, Warm Elm

CT02N

This version of our horseshoe armchair is in our 'warm' finish, chairs like this one were symbols of status in Ming dynasty China. Known also in Ch...

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£625.00
Horseshoe Armchair, Black Lacquer
£625.00

Horseshoe Armchair, Black Lacquer

CT02D

Finished in our black lacquer, this horseshoe armchair takes its design from those of the Ming dynasty used as symbols of status. Originally used a...

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£625.00
Horseshoe Armchair, Light Elm
£625.00

Horseshoe Armchair, Light Elm

CT02M

The light finish on this version of our horseshoe armchair, accentuates the grain of the elm wood and complexity of the build, as all the different...

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£625.00
Ming Sideboard, Warm Elm
£1,365.00

Ming Sideboard, Warm Elm

CW14N

The two doors set centrally in this handsome warm elm sideboard are a feature of furniture from Qinghai province in western China and give it a sim...

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£1,365.00
Ming Sideboard, Black Lacquer
£1,365.00

Chinese Ming Sideboard, Black Lacquer

CW14D

Made from solid reclaimed poplar wood, our black lacquer sideboard has a simple, clean style. This is due to the two doors being set centrally whic...

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£1,365.00
Ming Sideboard, Light Elm
£1,365.00

Ming Sideboard, Light Elm

CW14M

Based on the old grain cabinets of Qinghai province in western China, our light elm sideboard would be ideal for a modern dining or living room. Ca...

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£1,365.00
Mid Size Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,145.00

Mid Size Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW17N

Our warm elm mid size cabinet features solid, simple lines which are typical of the furniture produced by the Chinese in the northern provinces. Th...

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£1,145.00
Mid Size Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,145.00

Mid Size Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW17D

Typical of the furniture produced by the Chinese in the northern provinces, our black lacquer cabinet features solid, simple lines. The round brass...

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£1,145.00
Mid Size Cabinet, Light Elm
£1,145.00

Mid Size Cabinet, Light Elm

CW17M

The 'square cornered' style, with thick outer frames, of our light elm cabinet, gives it a robust feel, while the round brass hardware on the doors...

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£1,145.00
Small Kang Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,125.00

Small Chinese Kang Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW10N

This low warm elm cabinet is ideal as a TV stand with unmistakeable oriental style. It shows the same simple, balanced design of our double sided c...

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£1,125.00
Small Kang Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,125.00

Small Kang Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW10D

The black lacquer version of our small kang cabinet oozes oriental style. Small, low cabinets like this were used throughout the colder Chinese pro...

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£1,125.00
Small Kang Cabinet, Light Elm
£1,125.00

Small Kang Cabinet, Light Elm

CW10M

Small, low cabinets, like this light elm version, were used throughout the colder Northern and Western Chinese provinces where they would be placed...

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£1,125.00
Altar Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,545.00

Chinese Altar Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW15N

Finished in our warm elm, cabinets in this style were used from early in Chinese history to hold incense and other offerings to ancestors. The reli...

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£1,545.00
Altar Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,545.00

Altar Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW15D

Our black lacquer altar cabinet tapers upwards to meet the curved apron at either end of the top surface, giving a sense of movement and fluidity. ...

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£1,545.00
Wave Trunk, Warm Elm
£945.00

Wave Trunk, Warm Elm

TK06N

The largest of our oriental trunks and chests, this elegant warm elm blanket box looks beautiful at the end of a bed and is strong enough to provid...

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£945.00
Wave Trunk, Black Lacquer
£945.00

Wave Trunk, Black Lacquer

TK06D

The subtly curved lid gives this black lacquer trunk its name as well as its graceful lines, while the large brass circular hardware adds some clas...

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£945.00
Wave Trunk, Light Elm
£945.00

Chinese Wave Trunk, Light Elm

TK06M

The wave trunk, here in light elm, is the largest in our oriental trunks and chests range. The subtly curved lid gives the trunk its name as well a...

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£945.00
Wave Trunk, Red Lacquer
£945.00

Wave Trunk, Red Lacquer

TK06R

Made from solid reclaimed elm with dovetail joints and finished on the inside in a dark wood stain our red lacquer wave trunk is the largest within...

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£945.00
Wave Trunk, Cream Lacquer
£945.00

Wave Trunk, Cream Lacquer

TK06C

This elegant blanket box, seen here in a lovely pale cream lacquer, looks beautiful at the end of a bed and is strong enough to provide additional ...

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£945.00
Large Chest of Drawers, Warm Elm
£1,245.00

Large Chest of Drawers, Warm Elm

TK15N

Finished in warm elm, this deeper, wider version of our Ming chest of drawers has a real sense of understated oriental style. Again it is a modern ...

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£1,245.00
Large Chest of Drawers, Black Lacquer
£1,245.00

Large Chest of Drawers, Black Lacquer

TK15D

Our black lacquer chest of drawers is a modern design - the Chinese did not use chests of drawers as we did in the west until quite recently - but ...

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£1,245.00
Large Chest of Drawers, Light Elm
£1,245.00

Large Chest of Drawers, Light Elm

TK15M

Made from solid reclaimed elm, our light finish really emphasizes the beautiful grain of the wood. This deeper, wider version of our Ming chest of ...

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£1,245.00
Double-Sided Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,365.00

Double-Sided Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW07N

This warm elm cabinet shows the clean lines and pure design that was typical of Chinese furniture produced during the Ming dynasty. The style is si...

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£1,365.00
Double-Sided Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,365.00

Double-Sided Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW07D

The style of this black lacquer cabinet is simple and beautifully balanced - the two sets of doors mounted on circular hinges and with the characte...

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£1,365.00
Double-Sided Cabinet, Light Elm
£1,365.00

Double-Sided Cabinet, Light Elm

CW07M

Ideal as a dining room sideboard or for bedroom or living room storage this cabinet in a light finish has a single removable shelf inside each sect...

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£1,365.00
Square Trunk, Warm Elm
£395.00

Chinese Trunk Square, Warm Elm

TK02N

Made from solid reclaimed elm wood this smaller, cube shaped Chinese blanket chest. Great as a side table next to a sofa, for storing towels in a b...

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£395.00
Square Trunk, Black Lacquer
£395.00

Chinese Black Lacquer Trunk, Square

TK02D

Like our other chests this black lacquer version is made from solid reclaimed elm wood using proper dovetail joints and is strong enough to sit on....

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£395.00
Square Trunk, Light Elm
£395.00

Square Trunk, Light Elm

TK02M

The handles on the sides and circular lock plate on the front of this light elm square trunk are in brass and give the chest its classic Chinese st...

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£395.00
Square Trunk, Red Lacquer
£395.00

Square Trunk, Red Lacquer

TK02R

Our red lacquer, cube shaped blanket chest is great for storing towels in a bathroom, as a side table next to a sofa or as a bedside table. Like ou...

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£395.00
Square Trunk, Cream Lacquer
£395.00

Square Trunk, Cream Lacquer

TK02C

With a modern cream lacquer finish this smaller, cube shaped blanket chest has brass handles and circular lock plate on the front giving the trunk ...

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£395.00
Low Scroll Table, Warm Elm
£1,195.00

Low Scroll Table, Warm Elm

CT03N

This beautifully simple low table in warm elm is based on the 'lute tables' used by the Chinese when seated on the floor to play musical instrument...

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£1,195.00
Low Scroll Table, Black Lacquer
£1,195.00

Low Scroll Table, Black Lacquer

CT03D

Great as a coffee table or as a stand for a television, this beautifully simple black lacquer low table is designed on the 'lute tables' used by th...

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£1,195.00
Tapered Cabinet, Warm Elm
£795.00

Chinese Tapered Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW08N

This style of Chinese cabinet, seen here in a warm finish, with the doors mounted on wooden dowels that fit directly into the frames and a slightly...

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£795.00
Tapered Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£795.00

Tapered Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW08D

Cabinets like our black lacquer version were sometimes known as 'Scholars' Cabinets' as they were often used to store the books, papers or writing ...

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£795.00
Tapered Cabinet, Light Elm
£795.00

Tapered Cabinet, Light Elm

CW08M

With two removable shelves inside, our modern day light elm version is a great size to hold a stereo unit, or even in a bathroom for toiletries. Th...

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£795.00
Yoke-Back Side Chair, Warm Elm
£425.00

Yoke-Back Side Chair, Warm Elm

CT11N

The name 'Yoke-Back' chair comes from the curved top rail seen on this timeless Chinese design and seen here finished in our warm elm. The style fi...

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£425.00
Yoke-Back Side Chair, Black Lacquer
£425.00

Yoke-Back Side Chair, Black Lacquer

CT11D

The seat of our black lacquer chair has a smoothed rattan inlay and works perfectly as a dining chair, with a desk or as occasional seating. Antiqu...

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£425.00
Yoke-Back Side Chair, Light Elm
£425.00

Yoke-Back Side Chair, Light Elm

CT11M

Since its early development this style of chair has changed very little through the centuries, with only slight modifications or regional variation...

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£425.00
Yoke-Back Armchair, Warm Elm
£495.00

Yoke-Back Armchair, Warm Elm

CT12N

Our warm elm armchair has the same beautiful curves and detail as our yoke-back side chair, including the dragon in carved relief on the curved bac...

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£495.00
Yoke-Back Armchair, Black Lacquer
£495.00

Yoke-Back Armchair, Black Lacquer

CT12D

Made from solid elm wood with a rattan seat our black lacquer armchairs would look great individually in a bedroom or living room as a statement pi...

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£495.00
Yoke-Back Armchair, Light Elm
£495.00

Yoke-Back Armchair, Light Elm

CT12M

Great individually in a bedroom or living room as a statement piece, or use them at the head of our dining tables. This light elm model is made fro...

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£495.00
Ming Chest of Drawers, Warm Elm
£1,045.00

Ming Chest of Drawers, Warm Elm

TK07N

Our warm elm chest of drawers features the usual frame and panel construction with a simple apron below the lower frame and round brass handles tha...

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£1,045.00
Ming Chest of Drawers, Black Lacquer
£1,045.00

Chinese Ming Chest of Drawers, Black Lacquer

TK07D

The four full width drawers in our black lacquer oriental chest are mounted on wooden runners to give an easy action when they are opened and close...

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£1,045.00

The history of Chinese Classical Furniture

Classical Chinese furniture refers to a style and an aesthetic taste, of restraint, balance and grandeur, rather than to a particular period. Plain hardwoods, like the reclaimed woods we use for these reproductions, were always accorded high esteem by Chinese craftsmen from the Qing dynasties onwards. Trade had recently opened, and tropical hardwoods from South-East Asia were beginning to be imported. It was these strong hardwoods which allowed the craftsmen to create austere, slender legged chairs and tables which showed off the beauty of the precious wood, alongside the lacquered furniture which was equally prized. Here at Shimu, we’re very happy to be continuing the tradition of Chinese classical furniture, and to be bringing you these beautiful pieces of furniture to show off in your home.

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