Antique imperial Chinese coffee table

This antique coffee table is a tribute to the millennia-old art of Chinese lacquer. Its vibrant red hue, a symbol of luck and happiness, is not just a superficial colour but the result of a patient accumulation of material. The patterns are painted on layers of overlapping red lacquer, visible at the restoration points, testifying to a painstaking process that spanned several months. At the restoration points, one can observe the cross-section of these successive layers, evidence of ancient craftsmanship, far removed from modern industrial finishes. The thickness of this "skin" gives the piece its durability and deep lustre. The visible restoration points are not flaws; they confirm that the piece has endured through the ages and has been preserved with respect. Estimated to be 150 years old. Origin: Tianjing.