Lot Essay
See Evarts, "From Ornate to Unadorned", JCCFS, Spring 1993, pp. 24-33, for a discussion of a group of twenty known yokeback chairs, including this pair, sharing the same basic model and decorative language
Details
A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI YOKEBACK ARMCHAIRS, GUANMAOYI
17TH CENTURY
The toprail of each 'official's hat' armchair with a centered sloping neckrest and projecting ends, supported on backward-curving stiles continuing to form the back legs, the S-curved splat plain, the arms, projecting beyond the curved front posts, with curvilinear spandrels, the rectangular frame enclosing a soft-mat seat, above splayed legs joined by beaded, arch-shaped aprons with cusped details, the footrest and side stretchers supported by aprons with scalloped, wavy corners
46½in. (118cm.) high, 24in. (61cm) wide, 18½in. (47cm.) deep (2)
17TH CENTURY
The toprail of each 'official's hat' armchair with a centered sloping neckrest and projecting ends, supported on backward-curving stiles continuing to form the back legs, the S-curved splat plain, the arms, projecting beyond the curved front posts, with curvilinear spandrels, the rectangular frame enclosing a soft-mat seat, above splayed legs joined by beaded, arch-shaped aprons with cusped details, the footrest and side stretchers supported by aprons with scalloped, wavy corners
46½in. (118cm.) high, 24in. (61cm) wide, 18½in. (47cm.) deep (2)
Literature
Curtis Evarts, "From Ornate to Unadorned: A Study of a Group of Yokeback Chairs", JCCFS, Spring 1993, p. 31, fig. 9
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 48, no. 22
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 48, no. 22