Featured Help / Info sought: This antique was sold 25 years ago as a "400 year old Chinese Bench." Thoughts?

We know nothing else about it. And we can't read the writings on the underside. It would be great to learn what that writing says! Thanks in advance for any help provided!

 

See you are not getting replies. I am not a Chinese furniture expert but will give it a go. Looks to be an altar bench or table with some age to it. Hard to say how old, as these have been made much the same for hundreds of years. The extra thick top on yours seems a bit out of character and these usually has a piece at each end to give an up-tured look. I also wonder if yours might have been cut down a little. For what it is worth, the one I found that is most similar to yours, is brand new.... (I don't think yours is new).




Oriental altar tables hand carved Chinese Ming style , 60" Wide - Oriental Furniture Warehouse: Chinese & Asian Styles (orientalfurnishings.com)

 

That is interesting!