17TH CENTURY

The present kang table is a rare example of early Imperial furniture, which rarely survives in such well-preserved condition. Of particular note are the striding gilded dragons and phoenixes in flight, which can be seen on the aprons, and the finely painted dragons and phoenixes in various attitudes enclosed in roundels on the top. This decoration can also be seen on red, lacquered and gilt-decorated dining table in the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong, 2002, p. 120-121, pl. 103, which depicts similarly rendered striding dragons chasing a flaming pearl on the cusped apron, and dated to the late Ming-early Qing dynasty. The dragon and phoenix roundels are related to the floral roundels painted to the top of a long, red lacquered and gilt-decorated table with everted ends, in the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, p. 157, pl. 140, and dated to the Qing dynasty.