Coffee Table Antique Hardwood and Wood Base
We create this massive low table for our Bangkok based client by joining two impressive slabs of solid Chicken-Wing wood (鸡翅木 Jīchì mù) (learn more about this wood below). We made a deliberate decision to forego additional design elements and decorations, choosing instead to preserve the original markings that reflect the passage of time these slabs have gone through. To further enhance the beauty of the natural grain, we applied several passes of hard wax oil and buffed to a subtle sheen. The table features a metal brace that holds the wood together, which dates back at least half a century, a truly antique wood. We opted to preserve this authentic ‘objet trouvé’ as it adds to the table’s character and utilize the minimalistic trapezoid wood base crafted from the same Chicken Wing wood to keep the top undistracted. We are honored to include this low table in to P. Tendercool Hall of Fame.
If you are interested in a similar table, reach out to us.
- Top 2 Slabs of Chicken-Wing Wood (鸡翅木 Jīchì mù)
- Finish Diamond Oiled
- Base PT32
- Finish Diamond Oiled
- Size D 203 x W 150 x H 38 cm
- D 79.92 x W 59.05 x H 15 in
- Lead-time 12 weeks maximum
Antique Hardwood
P. Tendercool founders are former antique dealers who collected about 200 slabs of antique Chicken-Wing Wood (鸡翅木, Jīchì mù) over a period of 15 years. This wood was venerated during the ‘Ming’ dynasty and coveted by literati and scholars for its beautiful grain, “…like feathers of a bird…”
Our slabs were collected in Northern Vietnam, close to the Chinese border. Back in the 19th century, villagers would place two identical ‘Slices’ of the same tree next to each other, directly on the floor, to serve as a dry platform to sit, eat, and sleep on. This explains why our slabs come in pairs, typically about a person’s size, in various thicknesses. Inspection of the underside shows they were clearly cut by hand (pre-machine age!), without traces of legs nor decoration. Unlike the Chinese refined ‘Kang’ tables for the well-to-do, these 19th century slabs were purely functional furniture.
The simple fact these wooden slabs still exist is proof of their stone-hard quality: many decades of humid-hot, termite-infested surroundings have had no noticeable effect other than them remaining solid witnesses of a bygone era. We keep them in their original unfinished state awaiting clients’ preferences. We currently own two hundred slabs, an extraordinary collection for you to select from.Made-to-Your Order
Contact us with your preferred size or any details you love and we’ll get back to you with a quotation.
Lead-time: 12 weeks (shorter if we can – please contact us for our schedule).