These long benches are from Shanxi province, China and 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. One particularly evocative feature is the series of shallow grooves worn into the top, where knives were sharpened countless times in the distant past, a small but fascinating reminder of the bench's long working life. 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: Walnut wood
• Features: Extra-long farmhouse bench, thick solid plank top with historic knife-sharpening marks, shaped apron brackets, beautiful aged patina
• Condition: Good antique condition with expected wear, surface marks and historic repairs consistent with age and use. 
• Dimensions: W197 x D33 x H54 cm
• Weight: 28.6 kg