Mother of Pearl Inlaid Pedestal Table, Qing Dynasty

A mother of pearl inlaid huanghuali plank top pedestal table,…
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A Mother of pearl inlaid Huanghuali plank top pedestal table, Jiaji'an Qing Dynasty, the thick plank top decorated around the edges with mother of pearl flower sprays and florettes, supported on two separate similarly decorated square-cornered pedestals, each with an open upper section framed with shaped spandrels within the beaded edge, above a single drawer, supported on square section legs with beaded edges joined by stretchers above the short feet, 90 cm high, 250 cm wide, 52.5 cm deep. Other Notes: Surviving examples of plank top pedestal tables appear to be quite rare. It could be due to the individual elements being easy to demount and often do not survive together. This does however make them versatile and easy to move around. The thicker single plank tops are earlier in date, they became thinner as huanghuali was used more sparingly when it became harder to acquire., Compare with a pedestal painting table dated to the Ming dynasty from Beijing Cultural Relics Store, illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Classic Chinese Furniture, p. 176, pl. 116. See also a line drawing of a similar table dated to the mid Qing dynasty, illustrated by Wang Shixiang Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1990, Vol. II p. 107, B105. Compare with a huanghuali pedestal table dated to the 17th century illustrated by R.H. Ellsworth Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, pp. 180-1, no 69, A pedestal table from the Dr Sam and Annette Mandel Collection, Palm Beach, sold Christie's, New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1730

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  • Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

  • Huanghuali Wood - Huanghuali is the most sought-after timber used in the construction of Chinese furniture because of its fine colour and grain.

    During Ming and early Qing dynasties, most of the best furniture was made from huanghuali wood.

    It is a member of the rosewood family and over time the surface mellows to a yellowish brown tone with the exposure to light.

    In recent years, furniture made from huanghuali wood has increased exponentially in value.
  • Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.

    In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.

    Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.

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