How do you identify authentic 19th-century Chinese export furniture?

Look for hand-crafted joinery without modern screws, deeply carved relief work showing minor variations, natural wood grain patterns, and genuine surface patination.

How can a Chinese opium table be styled in a modern interior?

Position the piece as a central low coffee table in a living room, pairing it with neutral upholstery to accentuate the intricate dark wood frame.

How should antique carved hardwood furniture be preserved?

Dust the detailed carvings regularly with a dry brush, apply natural beeswax polish sparingly, and maintain stable indoor humidity to prevent wood movement.

for sale €2,165 $2,350

£1,850

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

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Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

Name: Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1239245
Price: 1850 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

Description

A Very Good Quality 19th Century Oriental Hardwood Coffee Table, Or Opium Table, Having Well Figured Panelled Top, Over Pierced And Carved Frieze, Raised On Elegant Bowed Ends With Carved Decoration To Solid Panels And Scrolling Feet.

Dating from the 19th century, this extremely attractive Oriental hardwood table is a particularly decorative example of its type, combining relatively simple proportions with a considerable amount of finely executed carved detail.

The rectangular top is constructed from good quality hardwood throughout and retains a lovely rich colour and surface. Particularly nice are the small carved details incorporated around the outer edge, which continue the decorative theme without overwhelming the natural figuring of the timber.

Below, the open pierced frieze is lovely, being extensively carved with trailing foliage, fruit and vine decoration. The carving has a pleasing depth and delicacy to it and, because much of the frieze is pierced right through, gives the table a lovely light appearance.

The bowed ends are equally attractive, each incorporating a solid recessed panel with further carved floral and foliate decoration, before sweeping down into bold scrolling feet.

Tables of this general low form are commonly referred to within the antique trade as opium tables, although today they are of course far more relevant as coffee tables. This example is particularly well suited to that purpose, with its generous rectangular top providing plenty of useful surface area, whilst the low height and open pierced decoration ensure it remains elegant rather than overly imposing.

As with many pieces of Oriental furniture produced during the 19th century, the appeal lies not only in the quality of the hardwood itself, but also in the considerable amount of hand carving involved in its construction. Here the combination of the pierced frieze, carved end panels and scrolling supports gives the table a strong decorative presence whilst retaining a wonderfully practical form.

As with all items which we offer for sale, this table has been attended to in our workshops by our highly skilled and traditional antique furniture restorers, where it has received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale. It is therefore ready to place straight into the home.

Circa 1870.

Height 12.75in.

Width 35in.

Depth 16.5in.

Physical Dimensions

Height

32.5cm (12.80")

Width

89cm (35.04")

Depth

42cm (16.54")

Declaration

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd has dated this Chinese Carved Opium Table to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1239245

Dealers Internal Reference

10016

Dealers Notes

A Careful Selection Of High Quality Town And Country Furniture For The Home From The 17th, 18th, 19th And Early 20th Centuries.

Members Of BADA, LAPADA & CINOA.

UK Delivery Available At Reasonable Rates.

Worldwide Shipping Arranged.

Description

fig 1. A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. — fig 1. Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

Dating from the 19th century, this extremely attractive Oriental hardwood table is a particularly decorative example of its type, combining relatively simple proportions with a considerable amount of finely executed carved detail.

“

The rectangular top is constructed from good quality hardwood throughout and retains a lovely rich colour and surface.

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

Particularly nice are the small carved details incorporated around the outer edge, which continue the decorative theme without overwhelming the natural figuring of the timber.

fig 2. A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. — fig 2. Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

Below, the open pierced frieze is lovely, being extensively carved with trailing foliage, fruit and vine decoration. The carving has a pleasing depth and delicacy to it and, because much of the frieze is pierced right through, gives the table a lovely light appearance.

fig 3. A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. — fig 3. Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

The bowed ends are equally attractive, each incorporating a solid recessed panel with further carved floral and foliate decoration, before sweeping down into bold scrolling feet.

Tables of this general low form are commonly referred to within the antique trade as opium tables, although today they are of course far more relevant as coffee tables. This example is particularly well suited to that purpose, with its generous rectangular top providing plenty of useful surface area, whilst the low height and open pierced decoration ensure it remains elegant rather than overly imposing.

fig 4. A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. — fig 4. Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

As with many pieces of Oriental furniture produced during the 19th century, the appeal lies not only in the quality of the hardwood itself, but also in the considerable amount of hand carving involved in its construction. Here the combination of the pierced frieze, carved end panels and scrolling supports gives the table a strong decorative presence whilst retaining a wonderfully practical form.

fig 5. A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. — fig 5. Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

As with all items which we offer for sale, this table has been attended to in our workshops by our highly skilled and traditional antique furniture restorers, where it has received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale. It is therefore ready to place straight into the home.

Circa 1870.

Height 12.75in.

Width 35in.

Depth 16.5in.

Physical Dimensions

Height

32.5cm (12.80")

Width

89cm (35.04")

Depth

42cm (16.54")

Date of Manufacture

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd has dated this Chinese Carved Opium Table to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Ref

SA1239245

Dealers Internal Ref

10016

About the Dealer

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2007

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the S and S Timms Antiques Ltd Profile Page

Trade Associations

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd is a registered member of LAPADA BADA CINOA

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A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons.

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Archive I

Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

Archive II

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View II

Archive III

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View III

Archive IV

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View IV

Archive V

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View V

Archive VI

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View VI

Archive VII

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View VII

Archive VIII

Archive IX

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View IX

Archive X

A 19th-century dark hardwood Chinese export opium coffee table featuring scrolled legs and intricately carved pierced floral aprons. View X

Traditionally crafted in China during the 19th century, these low-profile tables were used for reclining, dining, or serving tea, characterised by wide top surfaces and curved scroll legs.

They were primarily constructed from dense, high-grade native hardwoods such as hongmu, zitan, or rosewood, constructed using traditional mortise and tenon joinery rather than metal fasteners.

S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

Oriental Hardwood 19th Century Opium Coffee Table, Chinese Export

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