This low sideboard from Northern China/Inner Mongolia is from the mid 1800s. Such pieces were not only functional but were sometimes also painted to add colour to the surroundings. The rustic surface of this piece, where time has worn down and etched its signature upon the wood's surface, still glows luminously. The carving on the three sides of its door panels were painted in red and green. The current distressed look in reddish-brown finish also shows touches of black.