A small table discovered inside a two-up, two-down home could be worth more than £100,000, according to autioneers. The 400-year-old table dates back to the Ming Dynasty which was between 1368 and 1644.
And while it is simple in design it is expected to stand out when it comes up at auction. For while it has been given an estimated value of £50,000 to £80,000 experts believe it will end up being sold far in excess of that.
It was found by Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers. He told Derbyshire Live: "It’s a really important table. Though it was made centuries ago, its simplicity reflects modern design. It is a work of art."
He added: "It is an example of the finest Ming furniture, the pinnacle of table design. Items like this are mentioned in 16th Century Chinese novels about life in grand houses. There is a similar table in London’s Victorian and Albert Museum and in the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts in Beijing, China."
The Banzhuo side table is made of huanghuali wood, which was used to make fine furniture in China centuries ago. It measures 94cm wide, 79cm high and 47cm deep and has a floating panel construction, supported by three dovetail transverse stretchers underneath.
Banzhuo literally means ‘half table’ and is so-called for its size. The banzhuo was mainly used for serving wine and food.
The design of the table has also been seen in wall murals relating to dynasties before the Ming Dynasty. It is likely the table would have been owned by a high-ranking member of society, perhaps a government official or magistrate.
Hansons’ Asian works of art consultant Adam Schoon has dated the table to around 1600 - which was the end of the Tudor period in England and Wales. The sellers of the table were already aware of its importance and potential high value.
They inherited it from a relation who was "head-over-heels" for anything Asian’ and had a real understanding of architectural beauty. And it could be worth half as much as the property in which it was found.
Charles said: "Ming huanghuali furniture was admired for its simplicity and purity by wealthy Europeans who savoured the Ming aesthetic. After a long period of China being closed off from the world, it was seen as a symbol of an emancipated China that had once again opened its doors.
“Today huanghuali furniture is in demand at auction. It appeals to wealthy collectors from the Far East due to its elegance and historical significance. They’re keen to repatriate works of art to their homeland to celebrate and honour their culture.”
The table will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ October Fine Art Auction. To find out more, email charles@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk
