Carved Dragon Pedestal Desk
A carved hardwood pedestal desk, 19th/20th century, the wood with attractive grain and colour resembling huanghuali, the rectangular flush panelled top within a broad mitred frame, set at the front with three drawers, each carved with pairs of archaic style dragons in relief, the sides and back similarly carved with a frieze of rectangular recessed panels enclosing further dragons in relief, supported on side pedestals each with two similarly decorated drawers over an open compartment with slatted base, the outer sides carved in relief with a rectangular panel of a bat carrying a Qing flanked by a pair of dragons, fitted with chased baitong scroll-shaped handles, 33.07 in. high, 64.17 in. wide, 27.95 in. deep
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- Pedestal - The columns that support many dining tables and most small occasional tables. They are usually turned, though octagonal-shaped pedestals were fashionable during the 1830s and 1840s.
- Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.
- Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
- Panels - Timber pieces, usually of well-figured wood either recessed or applied over the frames of doors and as decoration elsewhere in the carcase of cabinet furniture. The panels may take a variety of shapes rectangular, square, shield shape, oval, half-round or in the form of Egyptian pylons.
- Pedestal Desk - A pedestal desk is a type of desk that consists of a large work surface supported by two pedestals or cabinets, one on either side. The pedestals are usually identical and contain drawers and cabinets for storage. The desk's design allows it to be placed in the centre of a room, as the back of the desk is usually finished with the same veneer as the front.
Pedestal desks were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were usually made from high-quality wood, such as cedar, mahogany, walnut or oak, and were decorated with intricate carvings and other decorative details. They were used by businessmen, politicians, and other professionals, and were considered a symbol of status and success.
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