This type of cabinet is
called "Zhushan" which literally means
seated box. In Chinese carpentry, a box is
different than a cabinet. A cabinet has legs
while a box or chest does not. Since a large
box such as this type of seated box was made
to stand by itself, a base is built so that
the box can be elevated a little from the
floor to protect the box better from
humidity. This black lacquer box has a flush
top and sides. The board panels are held
together by the use of tongue and groove
joinery construction. The front is decorated
with metal work, the waist is decorated with
elongated begonia, a symbol of prosperity,
and the base is decorated with the symbolic
trailing plants and cusped in the middle.
This design is very typical of Northern
furniture.