Chinese Side Table From Jiangsu Province - 19thC Opera Chests Harkening back to the simpler

Harkening back to the simpler times of the 19th century

This is complemented by the intricate hand-made brass fittings

This striking red lacquer altar table is from Zhejiang province in South China and dates to the very end of the 19th century

This is a really lovely piece

Chinese Side Table From Jiangsu Province - 19thC Opera Chests Harkening back to the simplerThese antique Chinese side tables are made from red elm (jumu) and would have been used as stools or side tables. The style is classic of Jiangsu province, an area that uses predominantly red elm. Red elm (also known as 'zelkova' or 'southern elm') is considered a superior wood to yumu, its northern cousin. Originally these pieces would have been coated with a burgundy lacquer which has worn away from years of use. They have been sympathetically