Antique Single Board Console

A beautiful 19th century console table in the Ming style. The solid wood table of mitre, tenon and mortise construction, has a thick single board top that displays stunning wood grains of Jujube, a prized wood valued by the scholars of Shan Dong province. The legs, made of solid elmwood, house the spandrelled apron. Each pair of legs has a pair of stretches for added stability and visual balance. Often made with the prized and scarce wood for the table top and a secondary wood for legs, such a table was used to hold music instrument such as Gu Zhen, or scrolled paintings and calligraphies. As the scroll unfolds and spreads horizontally, the viewers are able to enjoy the artwork in its entirety. This is a very heavy, solid table with original woods. The last photos capture the underside of the tabletop to show its original finish and patina.