Antique Chinese Coffee Tables

A curated collection of antique Chinese coffee tables and chests — uniting Qing-dynasty craftsmanship with modern rustic sensibility. From low kang tables used for dining and socialising on heated platforms, to richly painted opera chests and understated elm tables, these pieces bring depth, balance and quiet elegance to contemporary interiors.

Kang Tables & Daily Life

In northern China, the Kang table was central to daily life. Placed upon a heated brick platform known as a kang, it served as a low table for eating, writing and gathering with family. Crafted from northern elm (榆木 / yúmù), walnut (胡桃木 / hútáomù), poplar (杨木 / yángmù) or cypress (柏木 / bǎimù), these tables balance robust mortise-and-tenon joinery with graceful proportions. Their use-worn tops and soft patina embody a wabi-sabi appreciation for imperfection and age.

Painted Tables & Tibetan Influence

The collection also includes painted Tibetan Choksar prayer tables and opera chests from Shanxi and Gansu provinces — decorated in mineral pigments and raised gilt work that depict theatre, prosperity and auspicious motifs. Their vibrant colours contrast beautifully with natural elm and cypress, bridging ritual purpose and aesthetic refinement. Although originally used for altars and religious display, these tables now lend themselves perfectly to living spaces as expressive, historical centrepieces.

Rustic Elegance & Adaptation

Alongside painted pieces are rustic elm coffee tables from Hebei and Henan, whose pared-down forms highlight grain and texture. Some are adapted from opium tables and low benches, while others are antique cabinets and chests repurposed for modern use. The result is a balance of function and simplicity, where natural timber, traditional joinery and proportion take precedence over ornament.

Craft & Restoration

Each table is carefully restored by hand in our Wiltshire workshops, retaining original patina, iron fittings and pigments wherever possible. The result is a timeless piece that feels both grounded and refined — perfect for interiors seeking warmth, texture and cultural depth.