Country Group: China, Japan and Korea

Item id: 8400

Chinese Altar Table — Constructed from Wood Recovered from 1,000+ Year-Old Gobi Desert Tombs According to its original source, this altar table was crafted from ancient timbers discovered in 1,000+ year-old tombs in the Gobi Desert. While the exact age of the table itself is uncertain, the significant shrinkage in the joinery, later filled to stabilize the gaps, indicates that the piece was made long ago and has aged naturally over time.



Approximately 25 years ago, I encountered five or six pieces of furniture made from this extraordinary desert-preserved wood. I have seen none since, suggesting both the rarity of the material and the limited number of objects ever produced from it. The surface is exceptional—dried and preserved for over a millennium in arid burial conditions—and has a look and texture unlike any wood I have encountered. All sides are constructed from massive, solid planks, emphasizing both the quality of the timber and the craftsmanship of the piece.



A very large and impressive altar table (full dimensions to follow), remarkable for its uncommon material, presence, and provenance.