Qing Sideboards
QING STYLE
The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.
Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”
While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.
Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Qing
Chinese Black Lacquer Four Flowers Coffer, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century altar coffer displays many traditional elements of Chinese cabinetry, such as its overhung, floating panel top flanked by curving spandrels or its painted doors sec...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Antique 19th Century Chinese Sideboard
Located in New York, NY
Chinese 19th century Rustic sideboard. Timeless design clean lines and lots of usable storage. Elmwood sideboard having plum lacquer, four upper drawers with two lower cabinets. Stro...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Chinese Enchanted Garden Coffer, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This elegant 19th-century coffer was crafted of elm (yumu) with a square corner frame and four doors, each decorated with a traditional bird-and-flower painting. The serene garden vi...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Brown Sideboard, Shanxi Province
Located in Kastrup, DK
Sideboard in an original beautiful nut colored lacquer with a good patina.
Two drawers under which a pair doors with a central bar.
If needed the center bar can easily be removed to make it easy to place a wider item into the cabinet
From Shanxi Province...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Metal
Low Kang Carved Sideboard with Brown Distressed Finish and Two Small Doors
Located in Yonkers, NY
A low Kang Qing Dynasty period sideboard from the 19th century with brown distressed finish, two small doors, two small drawers and teardrop brass hardware. Step into a world of hist...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Sideboard from Shanxi Province, Late 18th Century
Located in Kastrup, DK
Sideboard, Qing style from the late 18th century.
Elm wood with burgundy lacquer, natural age-related patina and wear.
4 Drawers and a pair of doors.
Original condition, lovingl...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Mid-19th Century Red Lacquered Sideboard from Shanxi, China
Located in Kastrup, DK
Chinese 19th century sideboard cabinet with orginal lacquer.
Front and top with deep dark red lacquer, sides with black lacquer.
Features double bi-fold doors revealing a storage...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Chinese Trailing Clouds Altar Sideboard, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Topped with offerings of food, burning incense, and painted images of the deceased, this enchanting coffer played a central role in Chinese ancestor worship. Handcrafted of northern elmwood in China's Shanxi province, this 19th century coffer...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Qing Dynasty Elm Sideboard in Honey Lacquer with Four Doors and Brass Hardware
Located in Yonkers, NY
A late Qing Dynasty sideboard from the early 20th century in warm honey brown lacquer, blending functionality with refined craftsmanship. The generous proportions and clean lines ref...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
19th Century Chinese Sideboard In Cayenne Color Lacquer
Located in Kastrup, DK
Unusually large size sideboard with beautiful original 'cayenne' color lacquer. Black lacquer on the sides.
3 pairs of doors and 6 drawers.
From the Shanxi province, China. Dating ...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Decorative Lacquered Sideboard From Shandong Province
Located in Kastrup, DK
Sideboard in elm wood from Shandong province in China.
Black lacquer, with two pair of doors in polychrome lacquer with decorations.
Natural age-related beautiful patina, highlig...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Chinese Marigold Yellow Storage Coffer, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While most Chinese lacquered furniture is black or red in color, this 19th-century storage coffer is colored by a marigold-yellow lacquer finish with a wonderful crackled texture. Th...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Late 19th century Chinese small sideboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Late 19th century Chinese small sideboard circa 1890.
Made from from oriental softwood, with 3 drawers below the top surface and a double door cupboard below. Original hardware. D...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Softwood
Pair of Qing Dynasty Lacquered Wood Sideboards, c. 1870-1880
Located in Bagnolo Mella, Brescia
This stunning pair of lacquered wood sideboards from the Qing Dynasty (circa 1870-1880) are reminiscent of Chinese temples with their architectural form, evoking the grandeur of trad...
Category
1870s Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Wood
Provincial Chinese Dongbei Sideboard, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
The warm tones and active grain of natural pine wood are the focus of this unusually articulated Dongbei sideboard. Made for a provincial home in northeastern China, this table was o...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Pine
Qing Dynasty 19th Century Natural Wood Sideboard with Large Carved Spandrels
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period sideboard from the 19th century, with natural finish, carved spandrels and everted flanges. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this large sideboa...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Wood
Chinese Playful Wisdom Coffer, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This gorgeous black lacquer coffer from China's Hebei province may have begun its life as part of a dowry. Dated to the mid-19th century, the coffer was likely used as both an altar for ancestor worship and as a storage cabinet for clothes...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Black Lacquer Sideboard Cabinet from Tianjin, 1860 - 1880
Located in Kastrup, DK
Black lacquer sideboard cabinet from Tianjin.
Under the top are 3 large drawers and a main section that consists of 2 pairs of doors. ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Wood
Mid-19th Century Red Lacquered Sideboard from Shanxi, China
Located in Singapore, SG
This red lacquered sideboard originated from Shanxi province, China, and from its size it was most likely placed in the main hall of a well-to-do family. The original red lacquer hav...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Qing Dynasty Elm Sideboard with Four Drawers over Four Doors and Natural Patina
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period natural elmwood sideboard from the 19th century, with four drawers and four doors. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty, this elm sideboard features...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
Chinese Ruyi Altar Coffer, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Chinese artisans often weave stories and symbolism into their furniture designs. In Mandarin, the words for "eight" and "luck" share a pronunciation, making this coffer a powerful sy...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Cypress
Chinese Ten-Drawer Paneled Sideboard, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Intricately constructed with traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, this lacquered coffer was crafted by an artisan in northern China during the late Qing dynasty. Popular in China s...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Chinese Four Door Walnut Coffer, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
With minimalist form and luminous, warm brown color, this early 20th-century storage coffer layers effortlessly into modern interiors. Crafted of walnut with mortise-and-tenon joiner...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
19th Qing Dynasty Period Chinese Elm Wood Carved Butterfly Sideboard
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period elm wood butterfly sideboard from the 19th century, with carved grapevines and meander motifs, natural finish and bro...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Bronze
Qing Dynasty Period 19th Century Elmwood Sideboard with Dragon Carved Apron
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Qing Dynasty period elm sideboard from the 19th century, with two drawers and carved apron. This Qing Dynasty period elm sideboard from the 19th century captures the eye with its e...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
19th century Chinese lacquered hardwood sideboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Chinese lacquered sideboard dresser circa 1870.
Large and fine quality Chinese export sideboard. Panel top with carved scrolled ends. Below the top surface we have 3 ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Red Lacquer Coffer with Gilt Carvings, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the late 19th century, this vibrant red coffer was likely used as both an altar for ancestor worship and as a storage cabinet for clothes, textiles, and other household items. The large coffer is crafted of northern elm with straight sides, an expansive floating-panel top, and ornately-carved gilt aprons.
The center apron is carved with a pierced design of ribbon-clad scholars’ objects consisting of books, scrolls, and a weiqi game...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Cypress, Lacquer
Monumental Chinese Robe Trunk with Full Moon Lock, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
For thousands of years, traditional Chinese architecture had no interior closets, and trunks and cabinets were used as a storage solution for clothing, precious books, and scrolls. T...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Brass
20th Century Carved Wooden Sideboard with Floral Motifs and Shelf
Located in Yonkers, NY
A carved wooden waisted sideboard from the 20th century, with three drawers and lower shelf. This exquisite d waisted sideboard from the 20th century features a rectangular top with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sideboards
Materials
Wood
18th Century Chinese Elm Four-Door Side Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
An 18th century Chinese four-door side cabinet in red lacquer on elmwood. Original hardware in great condition. Overall this piece has wonderfull deep patina to the original Classic ...
Category
18th Century Chinese Antique Qing Sideboards
Materials
Elm
Qing sideboards for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Qing sideboards for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sideboards created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing sideboards made in a specific country, there are Asia, China, and East Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for sideboards differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,336 and tops out at $9,580 while the average work can sell for $5,150.