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Hello,

I am searching for information about a pair of Chinese
tables that I have. They measure 16 1/2 " X 11 " and are
30 " high. I don't know very much about them, only that
they look old. Both top panels have shrinkage of about
1/8 " across the grain, and on the bottom there seems
to be some sort of script (unless they are tool marks).
The underside of the tables looks old and crude.
Any help would be appreciated, but I would really like
to know.............

Type of wood
Age
Value

Thank You,

Kurt Karlsson
Orillia Ontario Canada
kurtkarlsson9176@yahoo.ca

Set of hua tai (flower/vase stands). The shrinkage in the top is normal and this means the floating panel is doing its job as intended (rather then a split of crack occurring). It is not necessarily a sign of age but rather speaks more to a) the humidity/dryness of the wood and b) the climate it is in currently. The marks underneath are just tool marks.

It looks like there is more then one wood type of wood being used here and it looks like the top floating panel is rosewood/blackwood/hong mu (depending on what you like to call it). The piece is either old and been restored or new and reclaimed wood was used (as can be seen from the underside photos). Likely its old (80 to 120 years give or take).

Region wise it looks like something that would come out of zhejiang / jiangsu region (maybe even into Shanghai) - that sort of thin clean lines look embellished with delicate swoopy motifs is in line with furniture from that region. If so, likely the structure is ju mu (southern elm). That would also explain the repair brace underneath which is also in a wood I commonly see from that region.

Many, many thanks for the information.
I am so glad I posted this. I really
appriciate your response.
Kurt.

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