MING DYNASTY, 16TH-17TH CENTURY

Daybeds such as the present example with carved cabriole-legs are extremely rare and only a few published examples are known. A very rare Ming dynasty huanghuali foldable daybed with cabriole-legs in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing, is illustrated by Wang Shixiang in Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, Vol. II, Hong Kong, 1990, p. 127, C4. A closely related daybed also dated 16th-17th century with similarly shaped cabriole-legs and shaped aprons, from the Museum of Classical Furniture Collection, was sold at Christie’s New York, 19 September 1996, lot 54 (fig. 1).

Curtis Evarts:

The huanghuali daybed with cabriole legs is an important early example of huanghuali furniture. Early characteristics on the present daybed evident in its relatively plain style, the high-waist construction pattern, and the quality of the huanghuali material. Although the aprons and legs are shaped with a lyrical humen opening, the surfaces are plain without beading or additional carved decoration. The exposed upper part of the legs visible at the corners of the high waist is a technique common to early lacquer furniture; later, with the development of more refined joinery techniques, a continuous waist that wrapped around a concealed upper leg post was realized. The deeply patinated huanghuali material has little figure and the aged surfaces are softly mellowed. Aesthetically, the daybed displays simple elegance and rustic refinement. It is a rare example of huanghuali furniture that can be safely attributed to the 16th century, and perhaps even earlier.

The present daybed was reserved for the Museum of Chinese Classical Furniture, Renaissance, California in 1993, but regrettably, the funding for its purchase was not realized. I was delighted when Piper was eventually able to acquire it. It was also the last major piece added to the Tseng Collection.