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Lot Essay
This versatile and elegant form of seating has remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years, and although separately attached footrests became relatively rare on chairs during the Ming dynasty, they were often retained for convenience on stools, which were more frequently moved about.
While quite rare, several similar huanghuali folding stools are known, although all appear to be smaller than the present stool. One example, also with triple-lozenge pattern on the foot rest, is illustrated by Robert H. Ellsworth in Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, pp. 42-3, no. 1, where it is dated to the late Ming dynasty. Another example in huanghuali is illustrated by Grace Wu Bruce in Chan Chair and Qin Bench: The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture II, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 76-7, no. 9, which was later sold by Christie's, New York, 20 September 2002, lot 55. A third huanghuali folding stool of this type in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is illustrated by Robert D. Jacobsen and Nicholas Grindley in Classical Chinese Furniture, Minneapolis, 1999, pp. 36-7, no. 1. Another closely related example, also in huanghuali, from the Gangolf Geis Collection, was sold by Christie's, New York, 18 September 2003, lot 27, where it was dated to the 17th century.
While quite rare, several similar huanghuali folding stools are known, although all appear to be smaller than the present stool. One example, also with triple-lozenge pattern on the foot rest, is illustrated by Robert H. Ellsworth in Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, pp. 42-3, no. 1, where it is dated to the late Ming dynasty. Another example in huanghuali is illustrated by Grace Wu Bruce in Chan Chair and Qin Bench: The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture II, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 76-7, no. 9, which was later sold by Christie's, New York, 20 September 2002, lot 55. A third huanghuali folding stool of this type in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is illustrated by Robert D. Jacobsen and Nicholas Grindley in Classical Chinese Furniture, Minneapolis, 1999, pp. 36-7, no. 1. Another closely related example, also in huanghuali, from the Gangolf Geis Collection, was sold by Christie's, New York, 18 September 2003, lot 27, where it was dated to the 17th century.