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ID #SA1217644
FOR SALE
£2,400
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19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Altar Table, C1890
Anthony Short Antiques
for sale €2,808     $3,048
£2,400
Anthony Short Antiques

Anthony Short Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2020
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Id #SA1217644
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19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Altar Table, C1890

19th century
Description

Late 19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Inlay Altar Table, Chinese, circa 1880–1900.

A fine late 19th-century Chinese altar table of elegant proportions, crafted in richly toned hongmu and inlaid throughout with beautifully figured amboyna panels. Dating from circa 1880–1900, this refined piece combines superb traditional craftsmanship with strong decorative appeal, making it ideal for both classical and contemporary interiors.

The shaped rectangular top, of traditional cleated construction, is set with three inset burr amboyna panels, creating a striking contrast in colour and grain. Beneath runs a deeply carved and pierced archaic frieze, richly detailed with scrolling clouds, flowering stems, tassels and geometric fretwork.

The table stands on moulded square section legs, headed with carved scrolls and united by shaped stretchers with openwork silhouette end panels. The carved decoration is repeated on the reverse, allowing the piece to be used free standing in the centre of a room as a dramatic focal point or console.

Displaying an excellent warm brown colour and good, original patination, this altar table is in superb condition. Its intricate carving, the sophisticated combination of hongmu and amboyna, and the overall harmony of its design make it an outstanding decorative and collectors’ piece, perfect for use as a console, side table or statement hall table.

Height 83cm (32.7in)

Width 120cm (47.2in)

Depth 40cm (15.7in)

Physical Dimensions
Height
83cm (32.68")
Width
120cm (47.24")
Depth
40cm (15.75")
Declaration

Anthony Short Antiques has dated this Chinese Hongmu Altar Table to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1217644
Dealers Internal Reference
1560
Description
Late 19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Inlay Altar Table, Chinese, circa 1880–1900.
“
A fine late 19th-century Chinese altar table of elegant proportions, crafted in richly toned hongmu and inlaid throughout with beautifully figured amboyna panels.
Anthony Short Antiques

Dating from circa 1880–1900, this refined piece combines superb traditional craftsmanship with strong decorative appeal, making it ideal for both classical and contemporary interiors.

fig 1. A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.
fig 1. 19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Altar Table, C1890

The shaped rectangular top, of traditional cleated construction, is set with three inset burr amboyna panels, creating a striking contrast in colour and grain. Beneath runs a deeply carved and pierced archaic frieze, richly detailed with scrolling clouds, flowering stems, tassels and geometric fretwork.

fig 2. A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.
fig 2. 19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Altar Table, C1890

The table stands on moulded square section legs, headed with carved scrolls and united by shaped stretchers with openwork silhouette end panels. The carved decoration is repeated on the reverse, allowing the piece to be used free standing in the centre of a room as a dramatic focal point or console.

fig 3. A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.
fig 3. 19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Altar Table, C1890

Displaying an excellent warm brown colour and good, original patination, this altar table is in superb condition. Its intricate carving, the sophisticated combination of hongmu and amboyna, and the overall harmony of its design make it an outstanding decorative and collectors’ piece, perfect for use as a console, side table or statement hall table.

Height 83cm (32.7in)

Width 120cm (47.2in)

Depth 40cm (15.7in)

Height
83cm (32.68")
Width
120cm (47.24")
Depth
40cm (15.75")
Date of Manufacture

Anthony Short Antiques has dated this Chinese Hongmu Altar Table to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1217644
Dealers Internal Ref
1560
Anthony Short Antiques
Anthony Short Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2020
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Anthony Short Antiques Profile Page

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A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.
1 / 11
Archive I A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.

19th Century Chinese Hongmu & Amboyna Altar Table, C1890

Archive II A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View II
Archive III A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View III
Archive IV A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View IV
Archive V A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View V
Archive VI A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View VI
Archive VII A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View VII
Archive VIII A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View VIII
Archive IX A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View IX
Archive X A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View X
Archive XI A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Anthony Short Antiques

Anthony Short Antiques
Telephone 07595 60 33 48
Location
Market Square
Petworth
West Sussex
GU28 0AH
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/anthonyshort
Verified Since Jul 2020
Items For Sale 175
Items Sold 45
Anthony Short Antiques
Anthony Short Antiques
Verified Since Jul 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: Market Square, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0AH, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/anthonyshort
Verified
Jul 2020
For Sale
175
Sold
45
A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.
19TH CENTURY CHINESE HONGMU & AMBOYNA ALTAR TABLE, C1890
Ref: SA1217644
A late nineteenth-century Chinese Hongmu altar table featuring everted flange ends, decorative openwork carved aprons, and three amboyna wood panels inlaid on the top surface.
Detail View 1
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Detail View 3
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Archival Detail

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FAQs

Historically developed during the Ming and Qing dynasties, altar tables were prominent fixtures in traditional Chinese homes. Positioned against main walls or in family ancestral halls, these tables were crafted to hold ceremonial offerings, incense burners, and family heirlooms.

Traditional Chinese altar tables are constructed using dense hardwoods such as Hongmu or Zitan, frequently featuring figured timber panels such as amboyna burl. Fabrication relies on floating panel construction and complex, glue-free mortise-and-tenon joinery designed to accommodate natural timber expansion and contraction.

Authentic nineteenth-century examples display hand-carved openwork aprons, original pegging without modern metal screws, and characteristic everted flanges at each end. Natural surface wear, soft edges around carved details, and patinated hardwood undertones further indicate genuine period construction.

A Chinese altar table functions as an ideal hallway console or entry table due to its narrow profile and elevated height. Positioning the piece against a neutral wall with minimalist decorative ceramics or contemporary lighting creates a balanced focal point.

Preserving hardwood and burl wood requires maintaining stable indoor humidity levels to prevent timber shrinkage or surface checking. Dust the wood with a soft, lint-free cloth and apply a thin coat of natural beeswax annually, avoiding liquid polishes or direct sunlight.
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