18TH CENTURY

It has been suggested that the four-poster bed was more likely to have been found in a man's apartment, with its ideal of 'pleasant refinement and elegant simplicity without stylish adornment,' cited by Wen Zhenhung in his early Ming guide to stylish living, Zhangwuzhi (Treatise on Superfluous Things). The six-poster 'wedding bed', often a dowry item brought into the marriage with the bride, was more likely to be found in the women's quarters. Compare with the more severe nanmu four-poster bed with open panels set along the three rails, sold in these rooms 21 March 2000, lot 41. Two four-poster beds in huanghuali have been sold in these rooms 16 September 1998, lot 81 and 16 September 1999, lot 79. For a further discussion of this piece, please see Curtis Evart's introductory essay, "Splendor of Chinese Classical Furniture: Highlights from the Gangolf Geis Collection", on pp.12-13 of this catalogue. Also see side view of this bed on p.9