Lacquered Cypress Altar Table From Shanxi - 19th Century Desks deep relief carving

deep relief carving

Design: Arched top with traditional openwork construction

Many years of use have left it with a beautiful patina and a wonderfully aged finish

The friction softens the lac which coats the wood

This example features two richly contrasting sides

Lacquered Cypress Altar Table From Shanxi - 19th Century Desks deep relief carvingThis classic antique Chinese altar table is constructed in the classic Ming style with elm scroll ends (everted flanges). This elegant altar table perfectly suits a corridor or living room. The top is a single piece of cypress wood (baimu), highly valued in China and has developed a wonderful patina over time. It was originally fully coated in burgundy lacquer however this has worn away on the tabletop. Altar tables were used for ancestor worship in