A HUANGHUALI COMPOUND WARDROBE, DINGXIANG LIGUI

LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A HUANGHUALI COMPOUND WARDROBE, DINGXIANG LIGUI
Late 16th/Early 17th Century
Of rectangular form, the well-figured, matched door panels fitted flush within the solidly constructed frame, the lacquered interior of the lower section fitted with three shelves, the second shelf forming the top of the pair of drawers, the lower shelf above a concealed storage space, the original baitong hardware comprising octagonal cloud-form lockplates and hinges with etched border, the pulls shaped as double fish or dragons and the faces of the lock studs etched with the figures of mandarins, the feet fitted with baitong mounts, the curvilinear apron centered by a ruyi motif flanked by cloud-form brackets, the hat-chest of similar design
99¾in. (253.3cm.) high, 45in. (114.5cm.) wide, 22½in. (57.1cm.) deep

Literature

Curtis Evarts, ''Classical Chinese Furniture in the Piccus Collection'', JCCFS, Autumn 1992, p. 24, fig. 29

Further details

See detail on preceding page

Lot Essay

A pair of similar compound wardrobes of slightly larger size, and with similar cloudhead baitong fittings, but with removable central stiles, from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, is illustrated by Sarah Handler, ''Proportion and Joinery in Four-Part Wardrobes'', Orientations, January 1991, p. 52-57; and in ''Cabinets and Shelves Containing All Things in China'', JCCFS, Winter 1993, p. 21, figs. 25 and 25a; and by Wang et al., in Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 134, no. 63, sold in these rooms September 19, 1996, lot 30

A pair with plain aprons is illustrated by Ellsworth, Grindley and Christy, Chinese Furniture, One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, p. 188, no. 73. Compare, also, the example with cloudhead fittings, but with an elaboratley carved apron and of narrower proportions, from the collection of Martin Luther, illustrated by Michel Beurdeley in Chinese Furniture, p. 94, fig. 129