Chinese lacquer tea table.... I think

Thank you for sharing these detailed images of your piece. What you have appears to be a Chinese lacquer tea table or bench, decorated with hand-painted and incised scenes typical of Qing dynasty-inspired design, though your item may be a 20th-century revival piece. Here's a full appraisal overview:

Item Description

• Object: Lacquered Tea Table (or possibly a Bench)
• Origin: Likely Chinese
• Period: Mid-20th Century (estimated based on condition and lacquer style)
• Technique: Carved and painted lacquer, depicting multi-figure court and landscape scenes
• Material: Wood with polychrome lacquer and gilded highlights
• Condition: Fair – areas of wear, chipping, lacquer loss, and surface cracking are evident

Visual & Artistic Analysis

• Top surface: Features multi-figure narrative scenes in pavilions, bridges, water lilies, and mountains – characteristic of Chinese storytelling art often influenced by opera scenes or famous poems.
• Sides: Depict natural landscapes and architecture – common in Ming/Qing-style lacquer furniture.
• Palette: Rich green, ochre, red, and black tones, typical of older lacquer traditions.
• Form: Long rectangular shape suggests it could be used as a tea table or a bench in a reception or scholar’s room.

Potential Age & Authenticity

• Construction and painting technique suggest it was likely made between the 1920s and 1960s.
• While it borrows heavily from older Qing Dynasty decorative motifs, the form and wear patterns suggest a 20th-century production – possibly for export or upper-middle-class domestic use.

Estimated Value

• Current fair market value (in current condition):
  $200 – $450 USD
• If fully restored by a professional (with sympathetic lacquer restoration and cleaning):
  $800 – $1,200 USD, possibly more depending on the market.

Recommendations

1. Restoration:
   • Contact a professional lacquer or Asian furniture conservator.
   • Do not attempt to repaint or varnish it yourself, as that can destroy value.
2. Sales Options (if you're in the U.S.):
   • LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable (through a local auction house)
   • EBTH (Everything But the House)
   • Chairish.com or 1stdibs.com (if restored or in good condition)
   • Local: Richmond VA auction houses, such as Quinn’s Auction Galleries or Selkirk (St. Louis but they handle Chinese antiques)
3. If Keeping:
   • Store away from direct sun and humidity.
   • Avoid contact with water and sharp objects on the lacquer.