Antique Low Lacquered Wood Table, China (16005LMK) $595

Description

Late Qing Dynasty artisans devoted as much effort creating small treasures like this as they invested in larger pieces.  Handcrafted with mortise-and-tenon joints, these items were made without nails or glue making them more stable and longer lasting. Vernacular furniture made for the emerging merchant wealthy class in was often coated with red or black lacquer, painted with motifs, carved and sometimes inlaid designs. They often had auspicious symbols to bring blessings of fu to the fortunate household members. The left drawer is covered with peonies and vines surrounding the butterfly pull. The peony is the first official rank symbolizing wealth, honor, and high status and when attached to a vine becomes a never- ending wish. The right side has the sacred plum blossom whose 5 leaves are a wish for the Five Blessings or Happinesses and on the left has the Sacred or Japanese Lily (wannianging) containing the word wan meaning 10,000 so it increases the wish 10,000-fold. The butterfly handle, which is a homonym for accumulation or reaching the age of 70 or 80, is a wish for longevity and when combined with peonies is a triple blessing for honor, wealth and social status. The back side of the top has a long crack, common for furnishings of this age, but otherwise is in very good condition.