Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty 59-Drawer Apothecary Chest Herb Cabinet 58"H

Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty 59-Drawer Apothecary Chest, Herb Cabinet

China, 19th century Qing dynasty

45.5"W × 23.5"D × 57.5"H (116 × 60 × 146 cm) | Approx. 200 lbs (91 kg)

A substantial apothecary cabinet (药柜, yào guì) of the type used in traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies, fitted with 59 drawers arranged in a grid of multi-compartment sections — each front face labeled with hand-brushed paper tags identifying the herbs or medicinals stored within. The case is constructed in elmwood (榆木, yú mù), finished overall in deep ox-blood lacquer with characteristic age-crackle and wear to the surface. Drawer bodies are plain-sawn softwood with forged iron ring pulls throughout; construction is mortise-and-tenon throughout, with the frame-and-panel side panels showing clean, flat-sawn grain. The large-format drawer at the base bears carved Chinese characters across the apron. Original paper labels remain largely intact, with calligraphic script identifying ingredients including 白菊花, 生薏仁, 冬瓜子, 廣木香, and others — a rare survival that documents the cabinet's active pharmacy use.
Condition: Expected wear consistent with 19th-century working provenance — lacquer loss, surface scratches, and minor cracking to several drawer sides (visible in photos); structurally sound. All drawers operate. Labels intact with some loss and lifting at edges.
A rare and complete example of Chinese pharmacy furniture with fully documented original labels — ready to install as a statement piece or working storage cabinet.

Please contact us about White Glove delivery to get a quote for shipping. $750 to $1200 depending on zip code.