Red & Black Painted Five Drawer Altar Table – 19th Century

This provincial Chinese altar table dates from the 19^th century, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). It is from Gansu province in Northern China and is made from pear wood. It has five red painted drawers set within a black frame. It would be perfect in a hallway given its shallow depth. Pear wood (梨木 lí mù) is considered a luxurious wood in Northern China. 

Tables of this design are known as altar tables. They were used for ancestor worship in China. Usually, a family ancestor portrait would be hung above the table & joss sticks lit & placed on the table for the well-being of the household. Altar tables were always long & narrow in form – a configuration seldom found in antique European furniture.

From China

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