Chinese Export Mother-of-Pearl-Inlaid Hardwood Table
Circa 1900
The rectangular top fitted with a glass insert, above a waisted frame and apron panels, supported on straight cylindrical legs, the entire surface richly embellished with mother-of-pearl inlay. Centered on each of the four apron panels is a circular shou (longevity) medallion, symbolizing blessings of long life, prosperity, and enduring good fortune. Surrounding these medallions are representations of the Four Gentlemen—plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—traditional emblems of the ideal scholar’s virtues: resilience, refinement, integrity, and reclusion. Together, they evoke both the cycle of the four seasons and the moral ideals associated with Chinese literati culture.
The waist, apron panels, and shaped aprons are further decorated with a variety of auspicious and scholarly motifs, including lotus blossoms, flowering branches, ornamental jardinieres, and fan designs. The fan motifs allude to cultivated elegance and literary pursuits, while the floral vessels and potted plants reflect the tradition of qinggong (scholar’s studio objects), reinforcing the refined aesthetic of the scholar’s studio. Executed in iridescent mother-of-pearl against a dark hardwood ground, the decoration creates a striking contrast and displays the high level of craftsmanship characteristic of late Qing export furniture.
Combining auspicious symbolism with literati-inspired imagery, this table exemplifies the richly decorative furnishings produced during the late Qing and early Republican periods. Its elaborate inlay program reflects both traditional Chinese cultural ideals and the flourishing international market for luxury Chinese decorative arts at the turn of the twentieth century.
{Approximate Dimensions: Height 31 1/4 x Width 48 x Depth 32 3/4 inches (80.5 x 123 x 84.3 cm)}.
嵌螺钿硬木长方桌
约1900年
长方桌面，上覆玻璃板，下承束腰、绦环板及牙板，直腿内翻，通体以螺钿镶嵌装饰。四面绦环板中央均饰团寿纹，以圆形开光突出“寿”字主题，寓意福寿绵长、吉庆安康。寿字周围配饰梅、兰、竹、菊“四君子”纹样，分别象征坚贞、高洁、虚心与隐逸，为中国传统文人理想人格的化身，同时寓意四时流转、生生不息。
束腰、绦环板及牙板处又饰莲花、折枝花卉、盆景花器及折扇等纹样。折扇寓意文雅风流与诗书之趣，花器与盆景则体现文人书斋清供文化，与四君子主题相互呼应，营造出浓厚的文人雅趣。螺钿色泽莹润，在深色木地映衬下熠熠生辉，展现出晚清时期外销家具精湛的镶嵌工艺与华丽的装饰效果。
此类家具兼具传统吉祥寓意与文人审美趣味，是晚清至民初时期中国外销家具的重要代表。其丰富的纹饰题材既承载中国传统文化中对于长寿、品德与雅趣的追求，也反映了当时国际市场对于中国奢华装饰艺术品的广泛喜爱。
{尺寸：高31 1/4、宽48、深32 3/4英寸（80.5 × 123 × 84.3厘米）}。
For condition report, please contact the Asian Art Department.
