A fine zitan side table tiao'an Dating: 18th Century Provenance: China "Elegant shape, moulded shoulder and small twisted feet of square section; exquisite manufacturing, probably Imperial, sculpted with stylized kui dragons and keyfret. Dark purplish patina.The present table is part of a highly restrained group of archaistic style carved zitan furnitures made during the Qianlong period. The strong interest of Qianlong emperor for archaistic bronzes vessels, enhanced by his extensive collection attests of his particular taste for the type of ornament carved on our table. These elements tends to attribute this zitan altar table to the imperial furniture collection." Compare with a similar shaped but 'dahlia' design 18th century zitan table sold at Sotheby's New York, september 15, 2010. Lot 352. "Literature: Refer to a similarly designed table present in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing, illustrated in Ming and Qing dynasties furnitures, ""The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum"", Hong Kong, 2002, p. 120, no. 105." Dimensions: 56x160x93 cm.