Antique Chinese Carved Huanghuali Wood Display Stand with Serpentine Legs

Dimensions: 4-1/2”l x 3-1/4”w x 2-2/8”h

This Chinese carved wood stand features an oval form with a pierced skirt,  (apron), around the top platform edge of the stand with a stylized Ruyi motif. There are four Serpentine legs which are beautifully integrated into the carved skirt, (Apron). The platform has a recessed center for a previously owned object but is simple enough to accept other pieces of artwork. The stand was finished with a coating of dark lacquer, now beautifully weathered from a century of use.

Chinese Huanghuali furniture is extremely rare and highly coveted, and refers to all furniture made from the yellowish-red wood of the Huanghuali tree. Huanghuali is a type of rosewood originally referred to as “huali." “Huang," meaning “yellow," refers to the yellowish tone that is adopted by the wood after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Huanghuali wood furniture is not only distinctive by the beautiful color, but also by the sweet aroma when cut. Due to its popularity, however, the slow-growing Huanghuali tree now hangs on the brink of extinction and all new creation of furniture and decorative arts from its wood is now forbidden. 

Historical Information: Antique decorative stands were used from ancient times to the present to celebrate and present beautiful art objects and served to bring esteemed objects into more prominent light and bring esteemed objects into more prominent light. As with stands like the piece being offered are a favorite for display — Stand that are rough in textural carving to those that have a silky smooth texture, with the matted or richly toned surfaces have always been considered pleasing both to the touch and eye and not meant to be more important than the piece for which it is presenting.

By the late Ming period, the pairing of objects to stands of suitable style and size had become an important aesthetic objective. These beautiful stand forms were made from a wide variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, wood, bamboo, root, and stone with lacquer being preferred. Today these miniaturized stands hewn from a single block of hardwood have survived. 

Condition: Exceptional impressive, and beautiful. There are no chips, cracks, breaks, fading, or color distortion, and it retains its original details and aged/patinated finish.