Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Angled View Of Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Corner Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Top Down Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Base Old Damage Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
End View Of Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Top Down View Of Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Angled View Of Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Corner Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Top Down Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Base Old Damage Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
End View Of Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Detail From Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century
Top Down View Of Antique Chinese Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou With Scroll Ends And Carved Spandrels 18th Century

Red Elm Altar Table From Suzhou - 18th Century

SKU: C2484 18th Century, from China
£6,250 Inc Tax.
/
Dimensions:
W208 x D44 x H86 cm
Quality:
Every piece restored & checked in UK
£80 (4-8 working days)
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This elegant 18th century Chinese altar table is crafted from beautifully grained red elm (zelkova), known in China as “jumu” or southern elm, and originates from Suzhou, a city renowned for its refined furniture making traditions. The long, slender form and restrained decorative carving are characteristic of classical Chinese scholar furniture, designed to complement interiors devoted to contemplation, ceremony, and ancestor reverence. The rich tone of the red elm and the graceful scroll-form ends of the tabletop give the piece a quiet sophistication that reflects the aesthetic ideals of the Qing dynasty.

Altar tables such as this were traditionally placed against a wall beneath ancestor portraits or religious images, where offerings, incense, and ritual objects would be displayed. The finely carved spandrels and open-frame legs show the careful craftsmanship typical of Suzhou workshops. As is common with traditional Chinese joinery, the tabletop can be separated from the base, allowing the piece to be dismantled for transport without the use of nails.

Today, pieces like this make striking console tables or hallway tables, bringing historical character and architectural elegance to a contemporary interior.

  • Origin: Suzhou, China
  • Date: 18th Century (Qing Dynasty)
  • Material: Red Elm (Zelkova / Southern Elm)
  • Features: Traditional altar table form with scroll-ended top and carved spandrels
  • Construction: Top can be separated from the frame using traditional Chinese joinery
  • Condition: Very good antique condition with age-related wear and patina
  • Dimensions: W208 x D44 x H86 cm

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