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Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions

Can I paint my Chinese cabinet?

1 Answer
Can I paint my Chinese cabinet?

Yes, you can paint your Chinese cabinet, though unless it is in poor condition, doing so is usually frowned upon. You will have to sand down the surface beforehand, as most Chinese cabinets have a lacquer finish.

Lotus Gallery
Lotus GallerySeptember 23, 2020
Shop for Painted Chinese Cabinets on 1stDibs
Chinese Hand Painted Cabinet/Side Table
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-567 hand painted Chinese cabinet/side table.
Category

Vintage 1960s Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Chinese Qing Dynasty Painted Cabinet
Located in Doylestown, PA
A late 18th century 4-door lacquered cabined from the Qing Dynasty, China, decorated in red lacquer
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Hardwood

Chinese Painted Book Cabinet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
painted cabinet in a children's bedroom or playroom as an unexpected bookcase or toy chest. Additional
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Elm

Pair of Antique Chinese Cabinets with Reverse Painted Glass Panels
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of antique Chinese cabinets in elmwood with reverse painted glass planels depicting the four
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Chinese Qing Dynasty Red Lacquer Cabinet with Hand-Painted Décor
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period red lacquer cabinet from the 19th century, with hand-painted gilt
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Pair of Antique Chinese Display Cabinets with Hand Painted Chinoiserie Motifs
Located in Yonkers, NY
A pair of Chinese tall display cabinets from the 19th century, with hand-painted Chinoiserie décor
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Cabinets

Materials

Wood

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Chinese Carved Hardwood "Chrysanthemum" Stand, 20th century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A large and impressive Chinese carved and stained hardwood display stand in the form of a stylized chrysanthemum, mid 20th century or earlier, China. The large display stand...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Scholar's Objects

Materials

Hardwood

Japanese Nanban Tsuba with Dragons, Edo Period, early 19th century, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A dramatic Japanese iron tsuba in the nanban (foreign) style, decorated with dragons and openwork and inlaid with silver and gold, Edo Period, early 19th century, Japan. The fantast...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Metalwork

Materials

Gold, Iron, Silver

Ito Tozan I "Basket and Frog" Ceramic Vessel, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan
By Ito Tozan I
Located in Austin, TX
A large and whimsical glazed stoneware "Basket and Frog" vessel or basin by Ito Tozan I (1846 - 1920), Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. Impressed maker's mark to the underside readin...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Japanese Taisho Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Large Chinese Painted Pottery Horse Torso, Han Dynasty, China
Located in Austin, TX
A large Chinese painted pottery figure of a horse torso, Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). An unusually large Chinese Han Dynasty horse torso, also sometimes referred to as a recumben...
Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Han Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pottery

Pair Italian Neoclassical Craved and Gilt Wood Mythical Beasts, mid 19th century
Located in Austin, TX
A powerful and dramatic pair of Italian neoclassical carved and gilt wood mythical animal figures on faux painted bases, mid 19th century or earlier, Italy. The fantastic beasts are well carved, with dramatic wings that follow the sensuous curve of the neck, and a sinuous body ends in an eel-like tail gracefully curled in upon itself. The bearded heads feature a flattened snout with sharp teeth and a lolling tongue, and pointed horse ears and mane. The long forelegs stretched out in front of them and ending in pawed and clawed feet. The beasts have characteristics of several different mythical animals, making them hard to positively identify. The most likely candidates would be dragons, hippocampi, or chimeras. The beasts are unfinished to the back, indicating they were originally part of a relief decoration, possibly from a mirror. They have now been mounted to wooden bases faux painted to imitate porphyry. They would make perfect bookends or mantle sculptures.
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Bookends

Materials

Gesso, Softwood, Giltwood

Chinese Ming Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Guardian Lion, late 16th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic Chinese sancai glazed tilework celestial guardian lion, late Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), circa late 16th century, China. The charming and ferocious lion is portrayed in ...
Category

Antique 16th Century Chinese Ming Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Chinese Powder Blue Gilt Decorated Rouleau Vase, Qing Dynasty, c. 1900, China
Located in Austin, TX
An impressive and opulent Chinese powder blue glazed porcelain rouleau vase with gilt painted decoration, very Late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The vase glazed in a deep and r...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Chinese Qing Vases

Materials

Porcelain

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