Altar Table in Walnut

This stunning altar table was produced in Shanxi province towards the end of the 19th century in walnut, a wood often used for high quality pieces of furniture, with its beautiful golden brown colour and tone to the wood.

In a classic style with raised ends, finishing in a scroll design, suggests that the table would have been used as an altar table, with the top surface used to display offerings to ancestors. Often tables like this would have an ancestor painting displayed on the wall above.

An eye-catching and attractive feature are the table sides, where the front and back incorporate beautifully carved spandrels that taper down to meet the legs. The table top has a lovely patina developed over the years, adding warmth and character to this exceptional piece of furniture. Seven drawers, each with a simple carved front and old ring handle provide ample storage with three larger drawers at the bottom and four smaller ones above.