Shanxi console in elm with drawers – China, circa 1930

Console made of elm wood, originating from the Chinese province of Shanxi and dated around 1930. A piece of measured scale and traditional craftsmanship, halfway between a side table and an entrance console, representative of rustic furniture from northern China. The province of Shanxi, in northern central China, was for centuries a prosperous region due to trade and banking, developing its own furniture tradition: robust forms, low proportions, and a direct relationship to the daily uses of the home. This console fits into this tradition, where function—placing, storing, accompanying—is resolved through material and craftsmanship, without superfluous ornamentation. It is constructed from elm (yumu), a wood valued in northern China for its expressive grain and durability. The top, a floating panel framed by two crossbeams, is held in place by small dovetail keys that accommodate the natural movements of the wood. The structure is entirely assembled using mortise and tenon joints, without nails, and the two front drawers retain their original forged iron ring handles. The carved corner brackets on the sides provide a single ornamental gesture, discreet and restrained. Details. Dimensions: Width: 91 cm Depth: 40 cm Height: 52 cm. Style: Chinese provincial furniture, rustic Shanxi style. Materials and techniques: Elm wood (yumu); traditional assembly using mortise and tenon joints; forged iron ring handles. Place of origin: Shanxi, China. Period: Republican period (first third of the 20th century) Date of manufacture: Around 1930. Condition / Observations: Retains its original patina with visible wear, signs of use, and small structural irregularities typical of its age, which do not affect its stability or functionality.