Complementing the Green Theme

Chinese altar tables, like our warm elm version seen here, were actually used not just for holding offerings to ancestors, but also as more general surfaces to display flowers, vases or other prized possessions. Our version is smaller than most original altar tables, making it more practical in a modern western home, but is in a classic design with wonderful carvings at the top of each leg. The carvings show scrolling 'chi' dragons - a common motif on furniture of the Qing dynasty. The raised, wing-like 'flanges' at each end are typical of furniture used throughout China for a religious purpose.