Would you like a cup of tea? In a traditional Chinese reception room small tables were placed between pairs of chairs. Chinese officials still use this arrangement for receiving guests, who sit side by side, rather than facing each other. The tables were used for serving tea or wine or for the display of porcelains.
Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Huanghuali wood
31.0 x 20.8 x 18.5 in
46-75
Image and text: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2023
Where you'll find this
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Permanent collection