Plank Top Altar Table with Magpies & Plum Blossoms

This elegant 19th-century console table is a prime example of Qing-dynasty furniture design. Long, narrow tables such as this were traditionally given pride of place in the main hall of one's home, and were used as an altar for ancestor worship or as a display table for precious objects and instruments. Crafted of northern elm (yumu), this example has a solid plank top and is finely decorated with inset panel legs and ornate spandrels carved as sinuous dragons. A thin layer of dark brown lacquer cloaks surface for a subtle sheen and a richly aged patina.

The inset panels comprising the legs are beautifully decorated with perforated carvings of magpies amid flowering plum branches. Together, magpies and plum blossoms convey a blessing for abundant joy and rejuvenation in old age. A pair of magpies is also a symbol for double happiness or marital bliss, and is therefore a common motif on wedding and anniversary gifts.

Additional Dimensions:
Table Apron to Floor: 29.5"H