Chinese Side Table From Jiangsu Province - 19thC Sideboards Ginger jars are steeped in

Ginger jars are steeped in centuries of Chinese culture and history originating in the Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC) when ginger and other luxury Chinese goods became major exports to the Western world

Hat chairs were usually placed each side of a wine or tea table

It was made for grinding opium which would be mixed with water and poured through the spout for drinking

The colour palette itself carries strong symbolic meaning: red represents vitality

These antique Chinese chairs were known as officials hat chairs because the shape of the back was reminiscent of an officials hat

Chinese Side Table From Jiangsu Province - 19thC Sideboards Ginger jars are steeped inThis Chinese side table dates to the 19th century and would have been used either as a stool or an occasional table originally. It is made from red elm (zelkova) which is known in China as 'jumu' or 'southern elm.' This particular side table is lovely as the top is constructed from one piece of wood. Red elm as the name suggests has a more red tone and a more aesthetically pleasant grain. It was considered in China to be superior to its northern elm