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Subject:Re: NEED HELP - Chinese Zitan stand
Posted By: Kirkwood Paterson Tue, Sep 11, 2012
Hi Tim,
Pieces such as these largely manufactured in Canton for the Chinese trading classes & for export toward the end 19th & e 20thC. It is unusual for mother of pearl inlaid pieces to have characters incorporated into the design, but they albeit in an ancient calligraphic style text do not appear to be a reign mark. You could try the Needham Institute, John Moffett (head librarian) is usually very helpful in translating text such as this.
Mother of pearl inlaid pieces were manufactured during the 18thC, but these extremely rare, & your piece not among this group. The inlays too accurate. Mother of pearl is difficult to carve, & machinery associated with this type of work, typically employed in the musical instrument sector not extant until 3rd quarter 19th.
Concerning the wood, the hue far too nutty, & lacking the deep purple tannins particular to genuine Asian genera zitan. Pterocarpus soyauxii, or African zitan in terms of grain structure & specific gravity is extremely similar to Pterocarpus santalinus / genuine Asian zitan (grade 2) and often confused. This species lacks the latter's deep purple hue to the tannin. The correct Chinese nomenclature for this species is Hongmu. Hongmu meaning literally 'red wood' is a generic term applied to high density Dalbergia & Pterocarpus genera hardwoods imported from late 3rd quarter 19th onward, and can relate to mahoganies & mahogany generics. It is albeit less valuable than zitan, still a highly sought after Chinese furniture wood, and has been competing with zitan & huanghuali for many years. You must bear in mind the Chinese furniture market is tremendously sophisticated, & I do therefore feel you would be far more likely to find a buyer if marketed under the correct nomenclature.
Best of luck,
Kirk
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