Banzhuo side table

Datelate 16th–early 17th century

MediumHuanghuali wood

Dimensions34 × 38 1/2 × 18 7/8 inches (86.4 × 97.8 × 47.9 cm)

CultureChina

PeriodMing dynasty (1368–1644)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts

Credit LineAcquired through the generosity of Susan E. Lynch

Terms

Decorative Arts
Wood
Chinese

Object number2006.021

Label CopyThis table displays features of classic Ming furniture. Made of a beautiful hardwood imported from Southeast Asia, its elegant and restrained aesthetic reflected the taste of the literati. Sophisticated mortise-and-tenon joinery allowed for construction without nails or adhesives, and for portability, so that furniture could be dismantled and reassembled when an official was moved to a new government post. Clean profile and spare ornament call attention to the natural beauty of the wood. The zhuo table, characterized by placement of the legs at the four corners, “horse-hoof” feet, and a recessed waist, has “hump-back” stretchers that provide stability as well as contribute to the table’s elegant lines. Such tables had many uses: for playing the qin (a kind of zither), for dining or for display of prized objects.

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