Lot Essay
Massive in size and richly carved with dynamic five-clawed dragons against a dense landscape of swirling clouds, the present pair would have been important furnishings in creating an imposing and majestic interior space. The present pair of cabinets are related to a pair of zitan compound cabinets and hatchests located in the bedroom behind the Yang Xin Dian (The Hall of Mental Cultivation), photographed in situ in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum – 54 – Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, p. 296, pl. 249. which exhibits the sumptuous effect of an interior space furnished with highly ornate zitan furniture. (Fig. 1)
Cabinets of this type were commonly constructed in pairs and could be placed on opposing walls, flush with each other, or separated by a smaller piece of furniture, like the pair in the Yang Xin Dian. Due to their impressive size, compound cabinets were intended to serve as a central focal point of the interior space. Garments and large items would have been stored in the lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder. Fitted with shelves and oftentimes with drawers, their generous size made them ideal for storing long scrolls, bolts of fabric, garments, and books.
Constructed from the precious hardwood, zitan, the present pair represent an extremely luxurious use of a rare wood that was highly valued during the Qing dynasty. Zitan is a general term which includes numerous species of wood, however, it is commonly agreed that it belongs to the genus Pterocarpus. A purplish-black, fine-grained hardwood, zitan was considered the most prized hardwood by the Chinese. The density of the wood makes this material especially suitable for fine and intricate carving. The wood's scarcity was compounded by the fact that the trees themselves are slow growing and require centuries to fully mature into usable material. Although local sources of zitan exist in the southern provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi, much of the material was imported from Southeast Asia. As an imported commodity, its use was scrupulously monitored and carefully restricted at the Imperial workshops.
Cabinets of this type were commonly constructed in pairs and could be placed on opposing walls, flush with each other, or separated by a smaller piece of furniture, like the pair in the Yang Xin Dian. Due to their impressive size, compound cabinets were intended to serve as a central focal point of the interior space. Garments and large items would have been stored in the lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder. Fitted with shelves and oftentimes with drawers, their generous size made them ideal for storing long scrolls, bolts of fabric, garments, and books.
Constructed from the precious hardwood, zitan, the present pair represent an extremely luxurious use of a rare wood that was highly valued during the Qing dynasty. Zitan is a general term which includes numerous species of wood, however, it is commonly agreed that it belongs to the genus Pterocarpus. A purplish-black, fine-grained hardwood, zitan was considered the most prized hardwood by the Chinese. The density of the wood makes this material especially suitable for fine and intricate carving. The wood's scarcity was compounded by the fact that the trees themselves are slow growing and require centuries to fully mature into usable material. Although local sources of zitan exist in the southern provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi, much of the material was imported from Southeast Asia. As an imported commodity, its use was scrupulously monitored and carefully restricted at the Imperial workshops.