Antique Chinese Carved Scholar’s Table Oriental Altar Table Console Table
An exceptional antique Chinese scholar’s table with fantastic open fretwork frieze carving and extremely rare lattice footrest. Hailing from the later Qing Dynasty period of the late 19th Century China, circa 1890, this fabulous rare piece has gorgeous golden colouring, outstanding craftsmanship and superb oriental design and can be used as a console, hall or ornamental table in a variety of interior settings.
Even amongst other high-end finely carved antique Chinese carved altar console tables, this wonderful piece stands out as an exemplary and especially rare example for its gorgeously intricate frieze carving to ALL sides as well as the extremely rare fretwork lower shelf. Originally it would have occupied a central position in a scholar’s studio so that it could be admired and appreciated from all sides.
Made of solid Chinese elm ranging in hue from gorgeous golden honey to light nutty brown, this fabulous narrow console table features wonderful signs of Chinese master-craftsmanship and traditional artisan joinery throughout. It has solid just off-square rectangular legs, footrest and top with beautiful rounded edges, a mitre-bordered top with inlaid centre above a recessed waist with pronounced joints, a very rare FOUR-sided exquisitely carved ornate open frieze apron, an exceptionally rare stunning footrest of geometric lattice Wanzi fretwork and lovely horse-shoe feet.
Each side matches the opposite, with the two longer aprons featuring wonderful scrolled geometric spandrels to the corners, which are joined via a rope-scrolled carved centre-apron that supports a central geometric motif with wonderful ornate carved peaches with foliage (symbolising immortality and youthfulness) to either side. Both ends have similarly scrolled aprons that support a peach carving. The six peach carved motifs and the two central geometric carvings sit securely between the aprons and have slight movement, showing they must have been inserted before the tabletop was attached. The lattice footrest is extremely rare and a wonderful example of Wanzi fretwork carving.
Overall, this is a superb and astonishingly rare piece that would be a knockout in any setting. A similar but less ornate one sold at auction for almost £70,000, so grab this beautiful bargain while you can.
CONDITION
This is in very-good-to-excellent condition. Structurally sound, there are minor bumps and marks, as you’d expect with a piece of its age, and signs of historical restoration upon close inspection, including a section of the top and the top of one leg which have been inlaid and there are areas of what appear to be a kind of filler to keep the surface smooth. But none of this detracts from the beauty of this astonishing and rare antique piece; overall it’s in really lovely condition and if well looked after should last for generations and many more decades, if not centuries, to come – please see the photos.
MEASUREMENTS
Height - 88cm, Width - 105.5cm, Depth - 29cm, Central Apron Height - 73cm, Footrest Height - 13cm, Weight - 13kg.
DELIVERY
UK mainland delivery price quoted, or collect from Warwick UK. Please CONTACT US FOR INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY QUOTES with your postcode/zipcode.
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