bavarikon4UNotice
This object originates from colonial contexts and demands an examination of colonial history. bavarikon is displaying this object in order to enable and promote, among other things, a critical, sensitive examination of colonial history. As the operator of bavarikon, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) would like to point out that the acquisition of the object by the acquiring or holding institution or its predecessors or by persons may have been unethical or unlawful by contemporary standards.
Description
The square dining table with cloisonné décor was made in China in the 19th century, during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Count Karl (1872-1956) acquired the table there. The table’s top and cornice were made of hardwood, probably dark zitan wood. The legs and frame are probably carved out of hongmu wood. Chinese furniture made of zitan wood is still considered particularly valuable today. The colour, structure and smell of the rare wood were considered beautiful.
This type of table is called Baxianzhuo. It consists of a frame construction. Tapped into this frame are four straight legs with horse hoof feet. As is usual for Chinese furniture, neither glue nor nails were used in the manufacture of the table. The construction is stabilised by frames. These are each fitted with two drawers bearing inlaid cloisonné panels on a turquoise blue base and silver knobs cast in the shape of flowers. Two more cloisonné panels decorate the corners of each frame. The table top, a later addition, is slightly raised. The indented cornice below it is decorated with a fine, openwork carved vine decoration and ornamental relief decoration.
Comparable furniture with inlays of stone, jade or cloisonné became popular at the imperial court from the Qing period onwards. In 1949, Karl Graf von Luxburg noted the following thoughts about the table in his notebook: "A tse-tan table, carved, with enamel medallions."