A WAISTED ZITAN TABLE WITH BURLWOOD TOPQing DynastyThe rectangular topprised of a burlwood floating panel set within a molded-edge made ofzitan, supported by two transverse stretchers underneath, the recessed waist joined to shaped aprons and spandrels carved in pierced archaisticchilong scrolls on the corners of the slender round legs terminating in scroll-hoof feet, the wood a variegated dark brown tone, box.65.8cm (25 7/8in) wide x 56.8cm (22 3/8in) high x 31.2cm (12 1/4in) deepProvenance: 清 紫檀嵌樺木雕螭龍紋有束腰條桌Mixing woods was very popular in furniture construction during the Qing dynasty, and frequently resulted in a pleasingbination of colours, grains and textures, as is evident in the current lot. While stone, porcelain, cloisonné and other materials were also used for design elements, burlwood (huamu) seems to be amongst the favourite materials employed by furniture craftsmen of this period. This is perhaps due to the natural figuring of the burl, which is widely appreciated for its scholarly appeal.No other example seems to be published with similarly shaped aprons and spandrels as the present lot. For examples of mixed wood waisted tables dated to the Qianlong period, elegantly inset with burlwood top panels, seeClassics of the Forbidden City: Inlay Furniture in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing, 2013, pls.146-147.桌為紫檀木製，光素桌面攥框鑲樺木板心，側沿混面，面下打窪高束腰，牙條透雕拐子紋，四腿直下，内翻卷珠式足。樺木為常見的嵌鑲材料之一，取自於樹根部位，其紋理猶如菠蘿漆，做桌面尤其美觀。見兩張製作於乾隆時期的清宮舊藏紫檀嵌樺木心長桌，收編於《故宮經典：故宮鑲嵌家具圖典》，北京，2013年，圖版146-147。