17TH-18TH CENTURY

This set of four matching stools embodies a refined and scholarly aesthetic, its design inspired by bamboo and cane furniture construction. Executed in the added strip duobian technique, the stretchers and legs are joined in a wrapped-leg guotui manner to form a seamless yuanbaoyuan structure—a testament to meticulous craftsmanship and a classic form within the Ming-style furniture canon. The stools feature a soft mat seat supported by reinforcing straps beneath. Both the aprons and stretchers are designed in a full, rounded profile. Each side is adorned with two pairs of slightly flattened double-ring strut, ingeniously evoking the appearance of compressed bamboo. A complete set of four matching square stools of this type is exceptionally rare.

Compare to a pair of huanghuali square stools of similar form with double-ring strut, sold at China Guardian Hong Kong, 8 October 2020, lot 191. See also a closely related single example from the collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, sold at Sotheby’s London, 8 December 2022, in the sale Hotung The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung Part II: Day, lot 199. Compare also to a Ming dynasty single example of similar form, now housed in Tsinghua University Art Museum, collection number: 5964 (Fig. 1).

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.