Chinese Pair of Demilune Tables, Each with 1 Drawer

Six-sided table with one drawer, small metal feet, and a very orderly sense of direction.

This pair of demilune tables, each with 1 drawer is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the mid 19th century. It is elm wood. During the Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, a great deal of antique Chinese furniture was burned, confiscated or scattered, which the article says helped start the scarcity of such pieces. Hexagonal top angled toward the front over a single drawer with a bat-shaped metal pull. Four slim square legs carry metal shoes at the bottoms. The surface is a deep russet with warm grain and gentle shine. It is 37 inches long, 42 deep and 31.5 high.

Geometry rarely looks this homey or this well kept.