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Lot Essay
Carved from tightly grained, high quality zitan, the present zitan luohan bed is distinguished by the deep curve of the beaded apron and the tall, inward-curving legs that terminate in hoof-form feet. The tielimu panels are carved with roundels enclosing a shou character.
It is rare to find zitan furniture of this massive size. Even during the Ming period, sourcing high quality zitan was a challenge. Zitan trees are slow growing and require centuries to fully mature into usable material. Further, the timber in its raw form is twisted or gnarled. The almost flawless timber, relatively free from knots, of the present bed suggest that the master carpenter not only had access to but could afford high quality material.
A zitan bed of comparable size fitted with solid panels and deeply, inward-curving legs was sold in the Marie Theresa L. Virata Collection of Asian Art: A Family Legacy; Christie’s New York, 16 March 2017, lot 643. Another massive zitan luohan bed with replaced latticework side and back panels and carved on the apron with a chilong confronted on a sash-tied ruyi was sold at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2019, lot 1668.
It is rare to find zitan furniture of this massive size. Even during the Ming period, sourcing high quality zitan was a challenge. Zitan trees are slow growing and require centuries to fully mature into usable material. Further, the timber in its raw form is twisted or gnarled. The almost flawless timber, relatively free from knots, of the present bed suggest that the master carpenter not only had access to but could afford high quality material.
A zitan bed of comparable size fitted with solid panels and deeply, inward-curving legs was sold in the Marie Theresa L. Virata Collection of Asian Art: A Family Legacy; Christie’s New York, 16 March 2017, lot 643. Another massive zitan luohan bed with replaced latticework side and back panels and carved on the apron with a chilong confronted on a sash-tied ruyi was sold at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2019, lot 1668.