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Hello. I have tried searching online for similar items but unfortunately cannot find any resources that are of help. All I know is that this was acquired in the 80s from the Philippines, origin unknown. Checking the underside, there are nails that look modern to me so I do not think this is that old.

May I ask your expertise if you have information - added photos of the inlays of bats and some designs that might be of help identifying possibly region and age?

Thank you.

This piece appears to have the general form of a Chinese "kang table" (炕桌 - kang zhuo), which is meant to sit beside a traditional Chinese brick daybed. However, the fancy gilt dragons and inlaid bats aren't always present.

These fancy features might inspire speculation that the table was made to hold smoking paraphernalia in an opium den, but I believe such pursuits were suppressed in the Philippines during the past century. This leaves another possibly stronger implication that the table was used as part of an altar setting in one of the traditional Chinese Daoist or Buddhist temples in Manila and other Philippine cities, or in the homes there of ethnic Chinese Filipinos.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hello Antiq.....
I don't think the piece is old at all. There are literally tons of this stuff floating around. I would though point out that the age doesn't necessarily make it without value. Some of this furniture makes good money.

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