Fig. 201

Double table with inserted central legs, black lacquer over yumu (northern elm), eighteenth century' Shanxi province. Photo courtesy Altfield Gallery

Fig.202

Painting table with large bracket-like spandrels decorated with a ruyi pattern, huanghuali late seventeenth to early eighteenth century, Jiangnan region. The openings between the legs are framed to simulate bamboo. Photo courtesy Peter Fung.

Fig. 203

Painting table with support braces and decorative spandrels, yumu (northern elm). nineteenth century, Shanxi province. Photo courtesy Airfield Gallery.

Fig. 204

Waisted side table with giant arm braces, huanghuali, seventeenth century Collection of Philip Ng

Fig. 205

Painting table with double stretchers and ruyi-shaped spandrels. Photo courtesy Christopher Cooke.

Fig. 206

Painting table with unusual decorative arches, lacquered yumu (northern elm), eighteenth century, Shanxi province. Photo courtesy Airfield Gallery

Fig. 207

Painting table with double-coin design, huaimu (locust), ca. eighteenth century, Shanxi province. Photo courtesy John Ang.

A side table or wine table is usually a small recessed-leg table. This type of table was singled out from the "recessed leg" category by Beijing carpenters because it was frequently used for serving food or wine. Although there are side tables in which the legs are flush against the sides, these are less common. Many feature stone insets because they were easier to clean. The weight of the stone, however, meant that the legs had to be thicker and sturdier, or that double stretchers had to be inserted between the legs. Humpback stretchers were also common features as they gave additional support for this style of table. Collectors favor these tables because they are easily placed between two chairs and used to serve tea. There are occasional side tables that have a bottom shelf perhaps to hold cards or games,(Fig. 210). Occasionally, one comes across side tables built with wood such as wut0nl], which is famous for its resonant qualities. In these instances, the table may have doubled as a stand for a musical instrument such as the seven-string instrument known as the qin or zither.

Fig.208

Flush-sided corner leg side table with a serpentine stone top (see detail).jichirnu (chicken wing), eighteenth century Fuiian province. Photo courtesy John Ang.

Fig.209

Waisted side table, zitan, eighteenth century. Private collection. Photo courtesy MD Flacks.

Fig.210

Side table with shelf, huanghuali, seventeenth century, Zhejiang, Photo courtesy Charles Wong.

Fig.211

Waisted side table with humpback stretchers, with a single plank huanghuali top. seventeenth century Jiangsu province, Collection of Philip Ng.

Fig. 212

Wine table, nanmu burl wood on top. early style late sixteenth century Shanxi province. Collection of Andy Hei.

Fig.213

Black lacquer wine table, late Ming dynasty, Shanxi province. This table has retained its original lacquer and paint design and has never been disassembled. Photo courtesy Andy Hei.

Fig. 214

Side table, jichimu (chicken wing) with huaimu (locust) inset in theYuan-dynasty style, late Qing. Jiangsu province. Collection of Philip Ng.

Fig. 215

wine table with recessed leg~ z/tan with huairnu (locust) central panel, eighteenth century Photo courtesy, Robert A. Piccus.

Fig. 216

Side table, huanghuali, seventeenth century Jiangsu

province. Collection of Philip Ng.

Fig. 217

Waisted side table with unusual curvilinear apron, huanghuali, seventeenth centur.4, Jiangsu province. Collection of Philip Ng.