Government Official’s Table

Ginkgo wood
19th century
43 × 43 × 29(h) cm

This government official’s small dining table would have been used to carry food for meals served in the government office, or for nearby outdoor dining. The table would have been carried over the head, and was therefore thoughtfully designed around the human body. Two small rectangular handles have been cut out on either side, and directly below these one can see a curved contour at the bottom edge, designed to follow the shoulder line. A large window, in the shape of a head or face, has been cut out at both the front and back and is both decorative and practical - framing the face of the person carrying it and allowing them to look directly forward, with an unobstructed view. In selecting the material - ginkgo wood - the craftsman clearly had the table’s function in mind, selecting a lighter but sturdy wood well-suited for its use in carrying food overhead.

In addition to these pragmatic elements, the artisan took care to add some finishing decorative elements - a decorative circular pattern has been carefully carved out in each of the four directions, using a cutout technique to realize a cross pattern nested within a circle. This adds to the table’s stately elegance, well suited for use in a stately government office.