Beschreibung:

A Imperial Chinese Zitan Side Table 18th Century The three-sectioned rectangular-form top set within a wide frame and carved along the outer edge with dragons amid swirling clouds, above a narrow plain waist and a band of bats flying amid stylized clouds, bordered below by lotus petal lappets, the straight sided apron with a central ruyi-shaped scroll densely carved with two opposing dragons chasing a flaming pearl and further dragons amid clouds extending down the exterior sides of the four square sectioned legs, all terminating in hoof feet with rockwork and resting on two later floor stretchers. Height 35 3/4 inches, width 63 1/2 inches, depth 16 3/4 inches. Often considered the most precious of all woods, zitan was a commodity so expensive and highly prized that existing stores of it were safeguarded in the Imperial warehouse and restricted for use by the Imperial Palace Workshop. The table's opulent carving and superior skill in execution further suggests an Imperial provenance. The deep dense carving flows with diving and darting bats and dragons writhing amid the swirling clouds chasing the elusive flaming pearl. C Estate of Sonja Caron Stein
Each corner of top has two holes now filled in from repair of interior support. Small three inch repair on one side of top. One corner with 1/2 inch loss. Applied molding below table top removed and now is the plain band below the table top. Carving below plain band with two corner repairs. Loss to two leg notches and loss to two notches on reverse side of skirt. Central scroll on skirt with separation on both sides. Underneath has been reinforced all the way around the interior of the table. Original lacquer under table top is still intact. Each leg with two L-shaped metal corner brackets screwed in. One foot missing applied border at base. Base stretchers added later.