Hi Diane,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Boxed loveseats or closed benches are ones with a hinged top that functions as a seat. They are both attractive and functional.
The bold carvings on this Chinese box loveseat suggest it was made anytime from the late 19th Century (1875+) to the mid 20th Century (1950s); it could be cherry but it could also be one of a number of other different woods including huanghuali, yew or rosewood, but since you're seeing this in person and think it's cherry, I'm happy to go with that for the sake of this appraisal since it doesn't affect value.
The hinged seat and cupboard are Western elements, indicating that this was made for the export or Western market. The current market for Chinese export furniture is fairly strong right now and related items have sold for between $500-700 when sold at auction (antiques dealers or private sellers would likely ask for more money for this in a retail setting or online marketplace).

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Chinese export carved cherrywood box loveseat
late 19th/early 20th Century
The crest heavily carved with birds and flowers raised on a tall back with shaped splats with relief-carved flowers, the arms terminating in lion's heads, over a hinged lift-top seat opening to a cupboard with a front heavily carved with lions and stylized relief carvings, with lion corners on small ball feet.
53 inches overall height, 54 inches long,22 inches deep.
CONDITION: This loveseat appears to be in generally good
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$500-700*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia