Design ideas or what to do with it differently than my plan also welcome…

If it is really old and not a more recent reproduction (sometimes it can be difficult to tell), then I would not ruin the original finish by painting it.

Unfortunately the market for pieces like this is very small in Miami. Much easier to sell in the north-east or CA area. I'm in the west coast of FL and had a large Asian console I had no room for in my new house. The local consignment stores had no interest. Ended up just giving it away!

You might want to talk to someone at this store in West Palm Beach https://circawho.com/. They take MCM and Asian pieces and repaint/update them for resale, but they do keep some of the pieces in their original condition. Maybe you could work out a trade-in with them?

Is that ROSEWOOD? Let it go live with someone who appreciates it and find something else to paint.

It can be a nice accent piece if painted.. in any kind of room…as to painting it … I have found the best results involve a good soapy water and scrub brush for cleaning … before painting…and …as to paint …I know from experience using spray paint in a can is most effective as it has a high glue content …and that several thin coats… will leave a smooth finish that wont scratch off the way regular paint will…to honor it’s uniqueness I would choose a bright color .. and paint the interior as well… inside even in a different color…so it will fit anywhere… as an accent piece…and will not need to “match” the decor… which could be too neutral to appreciate is uniqueness

If it’s verified there’s no significant value for the piece, consider removing all drawers and doors to keep as is. Paint the rest a soft complimentary color.

Another possibility to still acknowledge the seemingly “aged” piece …paint it a lighter color and then wipe it down with a light layer of stain….this will also offer a “forgiveness factor” for imperfections

Some things just shouldn't be painted, and this is one of those things. Even if there's no significant monetary value to it, it looks rich and beautiful as-is, painting it is going to make it *look* cheap.

It would be very foolish to paint this piece. Pass it on to someone who will love it as it is, and buy something that doesn't have to be changed for you to like it.

In Florida painting is often done on these pieces..as dark furnishings are not favored in tropical settings…the one exception you see in the Bahamas mainly …are dark carved beds…and smaller carved accent pieces…

In my experience the painted ones were priced higher than the wood finish ones…

If you love the piece and will enjoy it painted, do so. Chances of selling it are virtually nil regardless of comments. Just make sure to prime to preserve the wood for a future owner.

I don’t know the age of yours, but wouldn’t paint it it. As mentioned, if you can’t use it as is, I’d find something else.

A similar piece:

https://www.chairish.com/product/6065953/antique-19th-century-chinese-figural-carved-wood-cabinet-or-armoire

This style furniture rarely looks good painted. There are some exceptions (red?) but in a light color, it'll just look dorky.

See if you can find something else for the spot (although I kind of like the punch of contrast in the space) and put this in another room.

Leave it as it is and embrace it, or sell it to someone who will appreciate the classic, traditional finish. Painting it would be equivalent to putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.