Antique altar table

Elegant and classic dark lacquered altar table. This antique console has beautiful carvings between the legs at the side and spandrels carved like dragons.

Altar tables can be recognised by their ‘wings’ (carved pieces of wood at each end of the top), which denoted their religious and spiritual use. They were large; often over two metres in length. The altar table would be placed in the formal central hall of a house as a focal point, usually against the rear wall. These tables would display the tablets and incense used in ancestor worship, but would also show off prized possessions or heirlooms. Most altar tables were made with a recessed legs (where no iron nails were used). The spandrels at the top of the legs would usually be carved in a ‘cloud’ design, but this table has curvy dragon figures which symbolise protection.

The top of this altar table is slightly warped.