An Old Chinese Chest and Its Flawed Complexion

On this Saturday afternoon, I happened to look up and see sunshine streaming through a west-facing window at the right — and very brief — time to illuminate the Chinese chest in our family room …

As you can see, it has many nicks and dings, some better described as gouges! Scratches. Cracks. Wear. All these flaws make me appreciate and adore it even more.

For these flaws are not faults. They’re the result of having had a full life.

If only we could have the same attitude about the wrinkles and flaws we acquire on our complexions, as they are evidence of the long full lives we’ve lived:

• The rays of days in the sun we’ve enjoyed.
• The jokes we’ve laughed at so hard we’ve cried.
• The scars from physical risks we took.
• And yes even the trials and worries of our lives, they’re there too and hard as it was, they made us who we are.

These are all etched on the surface we present to the world.

This old chest, she’s far from perfect. But she’s still a beauty.

The crackling-paint top of this chest makes an appearance in the previous post showing candles on the chest.

How old the chest is, I don’t know. But I don’t believe it is a “new made to look old” chest as many of these Chinese pieces are. If anyone has feedback regarding “new or old” from what you can see in the photos, please comment. We purchased the chest in Minneapolis from a store that Room & Board used to run: Retrospect. Retrospect was very similar to Arhaus. Much of our family room and living room furniture is from Retrospect, including the red chairs you can see in the background.