This very well proportioned and elegant one-person style early Chinese bench is made of the rare Zuo wood with a simplistic yet sophisticated design with bamboo slates inserted inside the top frame. Zuo wood is a hardwood that is equivalent to western Oak. Although this wood was mentioned by Mr. Wang Shixiang in his notable "Classic Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties" book, real examples of older furniture pieces with a classical design like this one made of Zuo wood is extremely rare.