A display table which makes its own statement
A dusty piece of carvings leaning against the wall turned out to be the base of a late 1800s folding table from Hunan. Far too beautiful to hide under a table top, so we converted it into an elegant way to display precious items. We had to wait two shipments to get it home, but it was worth it!
A great conversation starter
One of our favourite discoveries in our October 2009 trip was this large pair of doors from early 1800s Shanxi, complete with original metalwork. After restoring the doors, our workshop crafted a bespoke base to convert them into a stunning dining table. No changes were made to the doors themselves, so they can be turned back into a impressive front entrance at any time...
The table now takes pride of place in a client's holiday home on the South Coast.
Left: Hou and our workshop manager discusing how to design the base.
Centre & Right: The final table, showing one of the wooden stands we had made so that the centre of the table can be used when needed. As always, both beautiful and practical...
Found battered, bruised and missing a few teeth... now a beautiful and practical storage unit
This 1800s willow cupboard from Mongolia was in a sad state, but the delicate carvings and hints of painting caught our eye … now it would look at home in almost any decor. The three carved panels have been converted into drawers to provide even more storage.
Delicate walnut table
If you've ever seen walnut you'll know how attractive the colouring and grain is. This late Qing table is a lovely example from Xian, the ancient capital of China, in Shaanxi province.
