Shimu: home to one of the widest ranges of Chinese cabinets in the UK
From Chinese wedding cabinets and sideboards, through to ornate lacquer cabinets and bedside cabinets, here at Shimu we have one of the largest ranges of Chinese cabinets in the UK. Our range includes original antiques alongside superb quality newly made pieces, in a choice of elegant designs to suit all interiors and budgets.
Chinese wedding cabinets
Traditional Chinese wedding cabinets are beautiful pieces of furniture which were originally designed with a practical purpose. The architecture of traditional Chinese homes is very different to the type of interiors we are more familiar with here in the West. Western-style wardrobes don’t fit Chinese interiors and rather than hanging clothes as we do, in China clothes were normally carefully folded and then laid flat inside a chest or cabinet.
Wedding cabinets were given as wedding gifts by the parents of the couple getting married and although they were made with practicality in mind, they are often made in ornate designs which would have required incredible artistry and skill to execute. As such, wedding cabinets would have been very important pieces which became heirlooms, passed on from generation to generation.
The elegance and beauty of wedding cabinets was to become widely appreciated over time, with ornate pieces made by the most highly skilled master craftsmen. In addition, their purpose began to evolve, with wedding cabinets becoming decorative pieces of furniture, used to store valuable ceremonial robes. Thanks to this development, we now see exceptionally beautiful antique pieces, although they are becoming increasingly rare.
Over time, Chinese craftsmen began to diversify by creating a broader range of designs, such as cabinets which could be used for general storage, providing a practical way to store different types of household items including utensils and cooking pots, books, writing implements or food.
Although antique Chinese wedding cabinets can be hard to come by these days, they are equally at home in today’s interiors as they were in those of the past. At Shimu our ever-changing range of original antiques often includes a small selection of antique wedding cabinets, perfect for complementing contemporary homes.
Chinese antique cabinets
We also offer a stunning collection of other types of antique Chinese cabinets including traditional storage cabinets, armoires, display cabinets and more. Many antique pieces have cabinet doors which have been painted with lacquered paint to give a glossy finish. This type of cabinet painting does degrade over time so we often restore pieces and give them a new lease of life with a new lacquer finish.
In addition, many of the antique cabinets we sell are decorated with stunning hand painted designs for an eye-catching and completely unique look. Painted cabinets are often finished with designs featuring floral images, birds and butterflies. As a result, they make beautiful focal points for a room and provide a real talking point.
Last and by no means least, Shanxi cabinets originate from a region in China which is renowned for its beautifully crafted hand painted furniture. Antique Shanxi cabinets often have a unique patina and a wonderful sense of history. Although the original lacquer degrades over the long term to become warm and cracked, the result we see today offers a beautiful patina, reflecting the long history of the piece.
Newly made Chinese cabinets
Our range of furniture includes one of the largest collections of high quality reproduction Chinese cabinets in the UK. Each piece is handmade in China from reclaimed elmwood and is constructed using traditional joinery skills and techniques.
Many of the designs in our Chinese classical furniture range are based upon originals and offer a stunning way to introduce a touch of oriental elegance and style into your home. From richly coloured lacquered cabinets and small side cabinets, through to television cabinets and blanket trunks, our collection has everything you need to create warm and welcoming interiors.
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