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Purchased from a highly reputable Bay Area gallery in 1999. I know little about this piece other than that it is huanghuali (the wood species has been confirmed), and seems, stylistically, to be Ming or (maybe?) early Qing. It was sold as Ming. I can't see how this could be Qing, based on the style.

I have had a hard time finding any parallels for the piece, in particular the leg style: the legs are (cf. photo) a somewhat simply carved scroll / volute form. Have also not seen many kang tables from either Ming or Qing with the cut-outs on this one. It is really quite a simple piece, but with (to my mind: that's why I bought it) a kind of elegance.

The underside of the work shows some fairly old (last century or prior) structural rehab work done, with linen (I am guessing) strips along some of the joins. The piece is solid. No cracks or splits; the surface is one solid board of huanghuali.

Any thoughts at all? We are not interested in selling the piece at present (or likely: ever), but would like to know more about its details and value, for insurance purposes. We have this and four other huanghuali pieces (a pair of continuous yoke-back chairs, and a pair of high tables), and are trying to learn more about them.

Ok, the photos didn't go through the first time. Trying again now.

For insurance purposes you must have in-person written appraisal.

Good luck,
Cal

Oh, I know�but as we are looking around for appraisers (I'm not convinced that the local appraiser knows enough about Chinese furniture of earlier periods), I am at the same time asking around with those who may know something more about it.

Anyway, thanks!

Trying again for more photos. I'm not sure if they are uploading.

no idea about your table, it does not look like any example I've seen before, but nice Gibson Explorer, or whatever that model is called.

Hello,

I am afraid this is not as old as you expect. I even doubt strongly the wood to be HHL. Newer grades of rosewood were used in the last century to build usual Ming or -more often- Qing designs. The table you show here does definitely not look neither Ming nor Qing in my humble opinion (and we speak about a style, not a period when we use these expressions). The carved decorations (spirals on the sides of the feet), the openwork and its shape are definitely not old. Same thought on the general construction and the side apron (shape).

A modest but nice piece of furniture still.

I can't figure out why photos I've tried to post won't work. Ideas?

It looks a lot like hong suan zhi (rosewood) rather then huanghuali. I would agree its not as old as it was presented as.

A lot of stuff coming into the states at that time was still through Hong Kong and southern China and this looks very much like a similar style of table I was recently show at a customer's home. I have included the link below. I wouldn't be surprised if this was something made in the last 50 years from either Hong Kong or Guangdong.

Still - good material, well made - that still makes it a very nice piece.

Also for reference, photos taken outside or photos with a flash are quite useful. Closeups of joinery and undersides are good too (details, details, details).



URL Title :small zitan table

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