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An Oriental furnishing piece, born in the final years of Imperial China, during the late Qing dynasty — a time when the country was still a cradle of extraordinary artistic and artisanal culture. An era not yet overwhelmed by political imperialism, mass production, or a global market flooded with low-cost goods.
Instead, it was a time of refined, inherited craftsmanship that engaged in dialogue with art, philosophy, and the harmony of forms, shaped by precise aesthetic codes and a strong symbolic coherence.
Crafted from hongmu — a dense, dark, and slightly reddish hardwood — it features a simple and well-balanced structure: square top with molded edge, straight legs, an apron adorned with traditional symbolic motifs, and an elegant openwork lower shelf with geometric lattice design.
Originally created to hold bonsai, today it serves perfectly as a side table or a discreet accent piece — ideal next to a vase, a book, or a steaming cup of tea — even in contemporary interiors, where it can display its story and character.
An authentic and well-preserved object, representative of late imperial Chinese craftsmanship, and rarely encountered in the Italian antiques market, where such pieces arrived only in limited numbers.
A fragment of ancient, cultured China — made of slow, simple gestures and the ability to speak to the world through beauty.
A rare, tangible legacy, suspended in time.
A quiet invitation to reflect on the cultural and artistic history of premodern China.
- Material: Solid hongmu wood
- Size: Cm 39x39x77h
- Condition: Restored
- Period: Fine '800
- State: Good conditions
