Dark Elm Chinese Antique Altar Cabinet 

This substantial sideboard is over two metres long and dates back to the late 19th century. Crafted out of elm wood in Shanxi province, the original dark lacquer is still in place - albeit slightly worn around the edges and crackled in places - adding character to its unique patina. Historically, these cabinets were used both for storage and to serve offerings to ancestors, and were usually placed at the back of the family's main living space, with ancestral portraits hung above.