Of sleek, simple profile, carved from a single piece of wood, the flat upper surface with rounded front and back edges and curving gently around at the ends to form the feet. Measure 35x23x3 cm. Measure of the rectangular tray 36x25x7 cm.
Wear.
The Danish Diplomat and Counsul General for Denmark, Ove Christian Lunn (1873-1935), Lunn had a long diplomatic career and was posted 1910-1918 in Oslo, 1918-1924 in San Fransisco, 1924-28 in Melbourne, 1928-1935 in Shanghai. These items were aquired when posted in Shanghai, thence by descent within the family.
Compare a slightly smaller laohuali stand in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated in R. H. Ellsworth, “Chinese Furniture: Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Qing Dynasties”, New York, 1971, p. 236, pl. 155.
Carved from a single piece of wood, this style of display stand demanded flawless seasoned timber.