Elm Altar Table From Shanxi -19th Century Benches It has been hand made

It has been hand made on a potters wheel in the traditional way and decorated by hand before firing with a swirling wave pattern

a serpent coils around a Shiva lingam — a powerful symbol in Hindu cosmology associated with Lord Shiva

this style of tiffin makes a wonderful decorative piece

The dhokra technique of lost wax casting is named after their tribe

Elm Altar Table From Shanxi -19th Century Benches It has been hand madeThis 19th century Chinese altar table from Shanxi province is a beautifully understated example of traditional domestic furniture, once used in the practice of ancestor worship. Crafted from elm, the piece has a long, narrow form designed to sit against a wall beneath ancestral portraits, where offerings and incense would be placed as part of daily rituals. Its simplicity is where its strength lies. The gently worn top bears the marks of time and use,