Zitan Asian Art and Furniture

A Zitan Cylindrical Brushpot, 20th Century Of plain form, the dark wood with even patina. Dimension: Height: 13.5 cm Diameter: 12.5 cm Provenance: Private New South Wales Collection.

Mid-19th century table top stand of zitan wood, Chinese. Qing dynasty, Ming design. To hold a bowl, vase or figure. 7 1/8" x 7 1/8" x 2 7/8" h.

Large Zitan Huanghuali hardwood brush pot bitong, Qing Dynasty, 18th century, China Measures: Height 12 diameter 12.75 in.

A late Qing dynasty Zitan wood chair set with table. Very nice table with two chairs made of rare Chinese hardwood, Zitan wood. The wood is very heavy and dense, sometimes referred t...

A full size cabinet with this level of workmanship would be an incredible find, but this beautiful piece of furniture - at only eight inches tall - is perfectly constructed down to t...

This hand-carved brush pot, bitong in Chinese, likely contained calligraphy brushes on a desk in a scholar’s studio. It is carved of Zitan, a dark, pr...

Surprisingly contemporary in its simplicity, this wooden tray, carved over 150 years ago, exploits the natural beauty of zitan, a prized hardwood from the forests of Northern China. ...

A large freestanding shelving unit or bookcase made of Zitan wood. All handcrafted with dovetailed joinery, China, first quarter of the 20t...

Pair of vintage Zitan display stands with lotus and vine relief carved pattern, with ruyi feet.

A Chinese "ruyi" scepter of zitan wood with inset carved jade plaques featuring the "jixiang ba bao". The ruyi, (lit. "as you wish") has long been a symbol of power and authority in China. Originally a Buddhist religious emblem, the ruyi was seen as a symbol of the Buddha's or bodhisattvas' (and by extension their temporal representatives') ability to grant boons or wishes. In the Song Dynasty (960-1276), the ruyi was adopted by the literati as a kind of "talking stick", and came to symbolize authority in discussion and debate. The ruyi was finally co-opted by the politicos in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and turned into a luxurious expression of power and wealth. This particular example is crafted from zitan wood and features three inset carved jade plaques. Zitan (lit. purple sandalwood) is a tropical hardwood that has long been revered as the most desirable hardwood in the Chinese furniture making tradition. The jade is of very pale celadon, bordering on white, with an even hue and translucency throughout. The carving features one large stylized "Xi" (happiness) character, and the "Jixiang Ba Bao" (Eight Auspicious Symbols) - the treasure vase...