Soapstone Overlay Cabinet Appraisal

Chinoiserie Style Lacquered Cabinet with Soapstone Overlay

This is a large, two-tiered Chinoiserie-style storage cabinet, likely functioning as an armoire or a display piece. The item features a white or cream lacquered finish as the primary background color. It is highly decorated with traditional Chinese motifs, including mountainous landscapes, pagodas, bamboo, and weeping willow trees in a sepia-toned ink-wash style. The set of focal points consists of four female figures (Geishas or court ladies) on the upper doors and two on the lower doors, crafted using the 'shoushan' or 'soapstone inlay' technique. These figures are three-dimensional, made from carved stone or composite material applied to the surface. The cabinet's borders are intricately painted with scrolling floral and patterned motifs. The hardware consists of dark brass or bronze circular backplates with small drop pulls arranged in the center of both the upper and lower door sections. Based on the construction and the use of the lacquered finish over what is likely a wood or plywood substrate, this piece appears to be a mid-to-late 20th-century Asian export piece, potentially from the 1960s or 1970s. The condition appears fair with some visible yellowing of the lacquer consistent with age and exposure to light. There is minor wear around the edges of the doors and potentially some surface grime on the raised soapstone elements. No visible maker’s marks are present in the frontal view, but such pieces often have labels on the back or inside drawers.