QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF HUANGHUALI RECESSED-LEG BENCHES
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
The rectangular soft mat surface of each is set within a frame above a beaded apron with shaped spandrels, supported on slightly splayed legs of circular section and joined by double stretchers of oval section.
20 3/4 in. (52.7 cm.) high, 49 1/4 in. (125.1 cm.) wide, 14 1/4 in. (35.8 cm.) deep

Provenance

The Hung Collection – A Selection of Important Chinese Furniture, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 April 2014, lot 61

Literature

Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, pp. 54-55, no. 7.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory, tortoiseshell and crocodile. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

Benches in pairs are extremely rare among the repertoire of Chinese furniture. Published examples of the exact form have not been found, but a huanghuali bench of similar size with cloud-scroll spandrels and feet, from the Tseng Riddel Collection is illustrated in Splendor of Style: Classical Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, National Museum of History, Taipei, 1999, p. 63.

This item is made of a type of Dalbergia wood which is subject to CITES export/import restrictions since 2 January 2017. This item can only be shipped to addresses within Hong Kong or collected from our Hong Kong saleroom and office unless a CITES re-export permit is granted. Please contact the department for further information.

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