Three drawer lacquered altar table with carving

In the early periods of Chinese history people sat on mats or low platforms. Furniture such as tables was small and low in keeping with the customs of the day. Over the centuries the chair became more popular and during the Song dynasty (960C.E. – 1279C.E.) the shift from mat to chair was virtually complete.

A consequence of this change in lifestyle was the development and evolution of new types of furniture that had a decorative as well as functional role. Tables were one type of furniture that found a place in this new style of living and a range of different types came into fashion.

This table would have held the family shrine, local deities along with items of beauty including porcelain vases with flowers. The large drawer has a medallion of the chrysanthemum. The chrysanthemum is a symbol of longevity, it being believed that drinking chrysanthemum tea would extend one’s life. The chrysanthemum is also the flower of autumn, specifically the ninth month of September. The word for nine is pronounced “jiu”, the same as the word for “forever” so enhancing the flower’s longevity symbolism. The smaller drawers have peach flowers, another long life symbol.

The table was lacquered, and remnants are still visible. The lacquer preserves the timber and creates a rich and lustrous finish. This lacquer is derived from the sap of a certain species of tree native to Asia. Its enduring qualities of protection and aesthetic appeal were first discovered and used approximately 6000 years ago. Processing the sap to lacquer is time-consuming and expensive. The pigments in the lacquer are from plants, minerals and burnt resin.