LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI COMPOUND CABINETS, SIJIANGUI
LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY
Each of massive rectangular form and beautiful graining, the hat chest with two square floating panel doors fitted flush and with a removable centre stile, above the large cabinet with rectangular floating panel doors similarly fitted and with removable centre stile, the doors opening to reveal two short drawers under a shelf, dividing the interior into three compartments, the lowest with a further removable half shelf, fronted by a horizontal panel above a shaped apron carved in shallow relief with two confronting chilong, fitted with round hinges, lockware, fish-shaped pulls and foot mounts, all of huangtong
102½ in. (260 cm.) high, 46 7/8 in. (119.2 cm.) wide, 22 5/8 in. (57.5 cm.) deep (2)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Known as sijiangui, "four-part wardrobes," or dingxiang ligui, top cupboards and upright wardrobes," these compound cabinets were generally made in pairs.

Compare a pair sold at Christie's New York, Important Chinese Furniture, Formerly the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection, 19 September, 1996, lot. 30. A pair with plain aprons is illustrated by R. H. Ellsworth et. al., Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, p. 188, no. 73. Compare, also, the example with cloudhead fittings, but with an elaborately carved apron from the collection of Martin Luther, illustrated by Michael Beurdeley, Chinese Furniture, Tokyo, p. 94, fig. 129

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