Minneapolis Institute of Art

Large Tapered Cabinet

China

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Huanghuali hardwood and pai-tung hardware

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The classic, tall, tapered, round-corner cabinet encapsulates the essence of Ming-style furniture. Its exposed framework, simple floating panels, minimal hardware, inward taper, and pronounced verticality create an impression of serene calm and balance. The legs on this example, among the highest known, contribute a sense of lightness to a rather large volumetric form. As traditional Chinese homes did not have closets, cabinets and chests were necessary for the storage of clothing in bedroom settings. Refined and elegant, the form relies on rounded corner stiles that splay slightly outward from the top, creating a feeling of balance and stability. The corner door rails have extended dowels top and bottom that fit into sockets in the upper and lower frame allowing the doors to pivot. This simple and ingenious device frees the body of surface-mounted metal hinges, contributing to the cabinet's clean lines and vertical emphasis. China, Asia

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