Elm Altar Table From Shanxi - 19th Century Material - Porcelain and the frame is poplar

and the frame is poplar

and cuirass emblazoned with a coat of arms

delicate painted detailing

Whilst elm is naturally a darker wood

while the squared posts and clean horizontal lines give the piece a restrained architectural presence

Elm Altar Table From Shanxi - 19th Century Material - Porcelain and the frame is poplarThis Chinese Ming style altar table dates from the 19th Century and was once covered in a burgundy lacquer. It is constructed from a single plank of thick northern elm wood (yumu). Much of the lacquer has worn away over the years leaving a pleasing patchy rustic look. We have sensitively restored this piece conserving its original finish. Altar tables were used for ancestor worship in China. Usually, a family ancestor portrait would be hung above the