Provincial Dubar Altar Console Table

This solid plank top table, known in colloquial Mandarin as "dubar," is unusual for its simple form and rustic appeal. Unlike the top surface of many Qing-dynasty tables, constructed of a frame with a floating center panel, the dubar surface is made of a single select piece of northern elmwood. Crafted in the early 20th-century in China's Shanxi province, the console table may have served as the altar in a provincial household, laden with offerings to pay respect to their ancestors. With expressive grain and undeniable warmth, this simple console table adds wonderful character to any room.