Chinese Bench From Shanxi - Late 19th Century

This rustic Chinese elm bench from Shanxi Province is a wonderful example of the practical furniture once found throughout Northern China. These long benches were used not only inside farmhouses around large dining tables, but also outside shops, tea houses and cafés, where customers and passers-by would gather to eat, drink and socialise.

Its generous length makes it ideal as seating alongside a large dining table, while its slim profile also lends itself beautifully to a hallway, boot room or beneath a row of windows.

The thick, solid plank top has developed a wonderfully worn patina, with softened edges and characterful marks that only centuries of use can create. Subtle shaped spandrels beneath the seat add a refined decorative touch while retaining the bench's honest, understated form.

Simple, robust and full of character, this is a timeless piece that works equally well in traditional and contemporary interiors.