Hongmu altar table

Is this Hongmu? I love this piece, but would like to know more about it. I have not found another example yet.

Do you know about it or of an example of this table? Or where I may look to find more information for history and solid identification?

Duke

 

Hi Duke! and Welcome!

I haven't a clue, but others might be able to help.

 

Thanks Judy.

 

You're welcome........

 

Sorry about small pictures before.

 

Lovely table. With stuff like this,its so hard to tell age because they still make it the same way they did 100s of years ago. For some reason I think 1960s, but thats a guess.

 

It has been in my family's possession since at least the late 1950's... so maybe should've put that in before. It was purchased in San Francisco probably in the late 40's or early 50's. I am pretty sure it is an authentic peace.

 

Don't know about Hongmu but it is a Chinese altar table. As Johnny said, made the same way for many years so very hard to date without further expertise. May have been new when your family member got it or it could have been decades old. No reason to doubt authenticity.

 

I found a close match to my table, the closer I look the better it gets! Here is the web address. Let me know what you think.
~
http://www.onlinegalleries.com/art-...9th-century-chinese-hongmu-alter-table/232986

 

Very close - the only significant difference I see is the center medallion - and possibly the ends (I can't see quite well enough). Your example is less complex than the other one, but I have no idea if that is significant.

 

Yes the scroll on the apron is the only difference that I can see too. I need someone, to look at it, who knows exactly what they are looking at. I'm making inquiries but no luck so far.

 

If anyone knows someone who has experience with late 19th century Chinese funiture, please let me know. I'm in Richmond Virginia.

 

I'm not at all familiar with that part of the country, but I imagine your first point of inquiry should be a reputable auction house. Outfits such as Christie's et al. can be contacted via email.

 

So Hongmu is a wood not a time period? Guys could you have given me a heads up?

 

Hey...you found out....so...you give us the heads up.....since you now know more than we do !
That's the way it works around here.

Oh.....& yes that link you provided ....it certainly looks like a similar table to yours...and at that price...worth getting an asian furniture expert to look at...

Good luck !

 

Sorry - from the way you were using the term I was under the impression that you knew what it was/meant! My bad, I guess....................

 

I try to learn something new everyday.

 

There was nothing in your post that indicated you did not know hongmu was the wood. How can we know what you don't know?

I had heard of hongmu wood but did not know much about it. A little research right now tells me it is, literally, rosewood. There appears to be several species of wood that get lumped into the hongmu/rosewood category so knowing what species is not necessary for Chinese furniture to be considered hongmu. Given that, your piece could very well be considered hongmu. In the trade, we often deal in Chinese rosewood furniture but I did not know it was synonymous with hongmu.

 

I

sorry if that post came across as salty, I am not feeling that. I do have something completely different I'll post later... and let the pictures do the talking. Seeing that I also have no idea what I don't know.

 

Love this style, so elegant.
I am no expert on wood, but it could be zitan, because hongmu is often more dull, it looks a bit coarser than your table.
Your table looks early twentieth century, ca 1920, I'd think. But it is one of those things you'd have to meet in person, so to speak.
The altar table in the link looks like it is made of a softer wood than yours, possibly Chinese elmwood.