Chinese Stool / Side Table

Knobbly golden stump with a smooth, lightly burnished top and flame-like swirls all around.

This stool / side table is from Hebei Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. Many Chinese antiques are now returning to China through auction houses and foreign dealers, as Chinese buyers actively purchase older pieces back, which the article describes as reclaiming their heritage. Rounded, tapering trunk section whose sides are deeply furrowed and swirled, with ridges that look almost like frozen flames. The top is cleaner and polished, in a warm yellow-orange tone with darker streaks. It is 11 inches long, 11 deep and 19.5 high.

Rugged outside, warmly polished where it counts.