This rustic Chinese elm bench from Shanxi Province is a wonderful example of the practical furniture once found throughout Northern China. These long benches were used not only inside farmhouses around large dining tables, but also outside shops, tea houses and cafés, where customers and passers-by would gather to eat, drink and socialise.

Its generous length makes it ideal as seating alongside a large dining table, while its slim profile also lends itself beautifully to a hallway, boot room or beneath a row of windows.

The thick, solid plank top has developed a wonderfully worn patina, with softened edges and characterful marks that only centuries of use can create. Subtle shaped spandrels beneath the seat add a refined decorative touch while retaining the bench's honest, understated form.

Simple, robust and full of character, this is a timeless piece that works equally well in traditional and contemporary interiors.

• Origin: Shanxi Province, Northern China
• Date: 19th Century
• Materials: Elm wood
• Features: Extra-long farmhouse bench, original traces of pitch on the surface creating a rich dark finish, thick solid single plank top.
• Condition: Good antique condition with expected wear, surface marks and historic repairs consistent with age and use.
• Dimensions: W189 x D31 x H49 cm
• Weight: 21.6kg