A Chinese altar table sold for nearly 20 times its auction estimate in a bidding battle sparked by the rarity of the wood it was crafted from.
The late 19th Century Chinese altar table, made from Zitan wood, carried a guide price of £3,000-£4,000 at Hansons Auctioneers – but the hammer finally fell at £55,000. The total paid by a private UK bidder in the room was £71,500.
The intensity of the bidding battle owed much to the beauty and workmanship of the object itself but ultimately its Zitan wood made it highly desirable, according to Hansons’ furniture valuer Scott Markham.
He said: “Zitan is a member of the rosewood family, a slow-growing evergreen which is rare. Zitan has historically been valued in China, particularly during the Qing dynasty periods. It is sourced from the tropical forests of Indochina and Hainan Island in China. It has a blackish red-purple colour and its fibres are laden with deep red pigments which have been used for dye since ancient times.
“Altar tables come in a variety of woods such as Hongmu, which is a dark reddish-brown resembling Zitan; Huanghuali, a reddish-brown to golden-yellow shade sourced in North Vietnam and the South China Islands and olive-brown Nanmu. Materials used depend on where in China the furniture was made.
“The carving detail on the altar table was particularly impressive with exotic foliage throughout the frieze and legs. Gilt mounts on its feet were moulded to match the carving, an aspect of its design which enhanced its rarity. Many altar tables have ruyi-form feet.
“The table was made during the Guangxu era in the 1880s. Furniture from this period is renowned for its heavy carving. The altar table was an exceptional example that delivered a phenomenal result.”
The Chinese altar table, lot 37, sold at Hansons Auctioneers’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall, in The Contents of a London Townhouse Auction on September 30.
To find out more, or to book a valuation of fine furniture, please contact Scott Markham: [email protected]
