Black Lacquer Altar Table

This 19th-century recessed leg table expresses Ming-dynasty tastes with clean lines and a simple silhouette. Used as a home altar for ancestor worship, the table features everted flanges at either end of the top surface, a characteristic taken from ancient ritual offering tables. The table stands on four round legs linked by double stretchers and topped by simple curved spandrels. The expansive table top is constructed of a single floating panel within a rectangular frame, a design that allows the wood to shrink and expand without strain. Accentuated by a black lacquer finish, the table has a simple yet sophisticated form that blends easily into any interior.