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
Large Tapered Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,745.00

Tapered Elm Chinese Cabinet, Large

CW11N

This classic Chinese cabinet is finished in a lovely warm elm colour. The tapering 'A-frame' profile of this wardrobe gives a wonderful sense of fl...

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£1,745.00
Large Tapered Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,745.00

Large Tapered Chinese Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW11D

Our beautiful black lacquer tapered cabinet originally would have included only shelves as the Chinese would fold their clothes for storage, but ou...

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£1,745.00
Blanket Trunk, Warm Elm
£625.00

Blanket Trunk, Warm Elm

TK01N

Finished in warm elm, the grain of the solid reclaimed wood really stands out. Ideal for storing everything from bedding and clothes to toys and ga...

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£625.00
Blanket Trunk, Black Lacquer
£625.00

Blanket Trunk, Black Lacquer

TK01D

Our wooden blanket trunks are great for storing everything from bedding and clothes to toys and games. This black lacquer version is extremely popu...

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£625.00
Blanket Trunk, Light Elm
£625.00

Blanket Trunk, Light Elm

TK01M

The light finish on this particular blanket trunk is simply stunning. Used for storing everything from bedding and clothes to toys and games, our w...

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£625.00
Blanket Trunk, Red Lacquer
£625.00

Blanket Trunk, Red Lacquer

TK01R

This version of our blanket trunk is finished in a lovely deep red lacquer a colour favoured by the Chinese. The inside is finished in a dark wood ...

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£625.00
Blanket Trunk, Cream Lacquer
£625.00

Blanket Trunk, Cream Lacquer

TK01C

Our subtle cream lacquer blanket trunk has a fresh modern look, with aspects of the classical Chinese style in the form of the circular brass locki...

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£625.00
Ladies Cabinet, Warm Elm
£995.00

Ladies Cabinet, Warm Elm

CT22N

Popular during the Qing dynasty, narrow tables like this warm version with drawers and doors were normally used in a lady's sleeping quarters as a ...

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£995.00
Ladies Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£995.00

Ladies Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CT22D

Tables like our black lacquer ladies cabinet were made popular during the Qing dynasty, similar style consoles with drawers and doors were normally...

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£995.00
Book Cabinet, Warm Elm
£1,395.00

Book Cabinet, Warm Elm

CW18N

This particular model is finished in our warm elm colour. The Chinese refer to cabinets like this, with open shelves above a closed section, as dis...

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£1,395.00
Book Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£1,395.00

Book Cabinet, Black Lacquer

CW18D

During the Ming and Qing dynasties it was more common for there to be a single open shelf, often with a carved frame around it, with a large cabine...

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£1,395.00
Book Cabinet, Light Elm
£1,395.00

Book Cabinet, Light Elm

CW18M

With the emphasis on the beautiful grain of the elm wood, our light elm book cabinet would be a stunning addition to any home. Referred to by the C...

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£1,395.00
Ming Wardrobe, Warm Elm
£1,895.00

Ming Wardrobe, Warm Elm

CW04N

This solid, simply styled wardrobe in warm elm is a reproduction of the thick framed 'square cornered' cabinets that were commonly made in Beijing ...

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£1,895.00
Ming Wardrobe, Black Lacquer
£1,895.00

Chinese Ming Wardrobe, Black Lacquer

CW04D

Our black lacquer wardrobe is a reproduction of the 'square cornered', thick framed cabinets that were commonly made in Beijing and other parts of ...

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£1,895.00
Ming Wardrobe, Light Elm
£1,895.00

Ming Wardrobe, Light Elm

CW04M

The addition of a hanging rail is what makes our light elm wardrobe different to the cabinets that the design is based on, this was something unfam...

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£1,895.00
Ming Wardrobe, Cream Lacquer
£1,895.00

Ming Wardrobe, Cream Lacquer

CW04C

Made with the modern home in mind, our cream lacquer wardrobe is based on the thick framed 'square cornered' cabinets that were commonly made in Be...

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£1,895.00
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
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

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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