Shanxi low side table in pine – China, circa 1930

Low wooden side table made of pine, originating from the Chinese province of Shanxi and dated around 1930. A piece with measured proportions and a simple design, halfway between a traditional stool and a bedside table, representative of rustic furniture from northern China. The province of Shanxi, in northern central China, has developed its own furniture tradition over the centuries, closely linked to domestic life and trade. Tables like this one were used interchangeably to place a bowl, a lamp, or an everyday object near the bed or family bench. The form always follows function, without unnecessary ornamentation. It is constructed from local pine, with a moulded inset panel top and turned legs connected by H-shaped cross braces, which stabilise the whole without visually weighing it down. The structure is entirely assembled using mortise and tenon joints, without nails or industrial glues, according to traditional Chinese carpentry. Details. Dimensions: Width: 51 cm Depth: 41 cm Height: 53 cm. Style: Chinese provincial furniture, rustic Shanxi style. Materials and techniques: Pine wood; traditional mortise and tenon assembly; H-shaped cross braces. Place of origin: Shanxi, China. Period: Late Qing dynasty – Republican period. Date of manufacture: Circa 1930. Condition / Remarks: Good. Retains its original patina with wear consistent with its age and use, without invasive restoration.