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I have this pair of consoles that are used as stereo cabinets. I bought them in a consignment store a few years ago and I was told that they came from a rich couple who lives in Beverly Hills here in Los Angeles. I bought them because of their beautiful carving and wood grain. Based on pictures on the internet I think they might be huanghuali. But, I'm not an expert so don't know for sure. I appreciate your help in identifying this fine pieces of furniture.

Your last photo sure looks like hongmu (suanzhi). The other photos look a bit red and without distinct grain, which looks like rosewood, but could just be the photo is not clear.

I just recently sold a large cabinet with deely carved doors depicting vases and flowers boardeted in archaic scrolling. I estimated the age age to ge late 19th c-early 20th c. I suspect you're compound cabinet that you are using as consoles are of similar period.

These are quite typical of Guangzhou cabinets of the late Qing dynasty. Unlike western furniture that changes in style significantly every generation, Chinese models remain unchanged for many, so being more accurate than that I'm afraid is just not possible. They are the hat boxes of a pair of compound cabinets. Their being huali wood is certainly not out of the realms of possibility. Nor is their being hongmu, but cabinets of this design were not typically made of zitan.

The word huanghuali is a connoissuers term that relates largely to patina, and is not a wood species as such.

Underneath the cabinet there should be a panel that has no finish on it whatsoever. Examine that with a magnifying glass & compare with the photo & description in the following link:

http://www.rarefurniture.org.uk/species-identification

If you're still having issues in identification after that, we would be happy to reccomend various tests that should provide an unambiguous answer, for you.

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