A RARE POLYCHROME LACQUER RECTANGULAR TABLE17th century The large rectangular top decorated with a central cartouche featuring various birds perched on a flowering branch of peonies issuing from a pitted rock, flanked by two further cartouches depicting similar designs of birds and flowering branches, all within a diaper ground interspersed with further panels enclosing floral designs, the cusped apron and straight legs with similar designs beneath the recessed waist defined by reticulated narrow panels and geometric spandrels. 85cm (33 1/2in) high x 143cm (56 1/4in) wide x 50cm (19 3/4in) deep. 十七世紀 填漆開光花鳥紋條桌 The qiangjin (incised lines filled with gold) technique was developed as early as the Warring States period. It was widely adopted on lacquer wares from the Song dynasty and was used on Imperial lacquer wares during the Ming dynasty. The history of tianqi , a subtype of the caiqi technique of colour lacquering, can be traced back to as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Although the earliest time when these two techniques were first used together on lacquer wares remains unknown, during the 16th century a large number of lacquer works were madebining the qiangjin and caiqi techniques. Whenbined with qiangjin , the gold lines and polychrome lacquer created a rather colourful and dazzling effect. A number of furniture pieces, such as tables, stools, incense stands were made during the Jiajing and Wanli periods, testifying to the Court's great interest in lacquered furniture at this time.pare, for example, a rectangular lacquered table decorated with designs of flowers and birds, Ming dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in Theplete Collection of Treasures from the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties , Hong Kong, 2002, p.108, no.91. The subjects depicted on the table top invoke auspicious symbolism conveyed through the use of birds and flower designs. Peonies mudan were also known in China as fugui , presumably following the popularity enjoyed by flowers among members of the Imperial families during the Tang dynasty. By their character and pronunciation, they convey blessings for happiness, fu , and noble/rich/high rank, gui . In conjunction with rocks (symbolic of endurance), magnolias (representing beauty and fertility), and magpies (homophones with jue , meaning high rank), peonies represent a visual rebus for the multiple blessings of wealth, longevity, progeny and advancement in career. The shape of the present table is similar to a rosewood table, Ming dynasty, illustrated in Theplete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties , Hong Kong, 2002, p.111, no.94.pare the flower and birds designs on a red lacquer table, Ming dynasty, illustrated ibid ., p.108, no.92. See also a related tianqi and qiangjin lacquer table, mid Qing dynasty, illustrated in Ming