AN UNUSUAL LACQUER DECORATED SIDE TABLE WITH FAUX PUDDINGSTONE LACQUER TOP AND HUANGTONG MOUNTS, TIAOZHUO
Qing dynasty, 18th century
The three-board floating panel top set into a mitered, mortise and tenoned frame, the top surface masterfully lacquered to resemble a single sheet of puddingstone enclosed in a huangtong frame and supported by two transverse stretchers and 'giant's arm braces' tenoned to the underside of the square, splayed legs half-lapped, mortise and tenoned into the underside of the frame and embellished with cloud-shaped brackets at each corner, the elegantly lacquered legs fashioned to resemble the shell of a tortoise; the apron fitted with elaborate huangtong brackets at the feet and barbed and cusped corner plates carved and etched with openwork designs of fronted peonies and leafy foliage.
34 3/4 x 37 3/4in x 18 7/8in (88.2 x 95.8 x 48cm)
Footnotes:
清 十八世紀 髹漆仿抱子石紋銅包角霸王棖條桌

Provenance:
Robert Moore, Los Angeles, 1 March 1998

來源：
加州Robert Moore古董行，1998年3月1日

The unusual combination of a lacquered 'puddingstone' top set into a simulated 'tortoise shell' ground-decorated table appears to be unique among known recorded examples. While the cloud-shaped spandrels may be later replacements, they create an elegant counterpoint to the finely crafted gilt copper floral brackets and the yellow brass molding enclosing the top edge of the frame.

Some restoration and repainting to the lacquer surface, replacements to some brackets; the top with some separations and craquelure.