Lot 17
17
A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI TRAVELING SCHOLAR'S BOOKCASES, TUSHU XINGGUI

Details
A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI TRAVELING SCHOLAR'S BOOKCASES, TUSHU XINGGUI
17TH CENTURY

The rectangular cabinet with a pair of paneled doors with symmetrical grain pattern fitted flush with the frame, the metal face plates and hinges also flush with the surface, set on a base with two side posts, each between shaped standing spandrels and connected at the top by a beam with a square baitong handle, the four corners and the top and bottom of the posts reinforced by plain baitong mounts, the interior fitted with two shelves
27½in. (70cm.) high, 23¼in. (59cm.) wide, 13 3/4in. (35cm.) deep (2)
Literature
Curtis Evarts, "Uniting Elegance and Utility: Metal Mounts on Chinese Furniture", JCCFS, Summer 1994, p. 27, fig. 1
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 124, no. 58

Lot Essay

See Wang et al., p. 124, where it is mentioned that an identical pair of bookcases is in the Dr. Henry Najer Collection in Paris. Compare the example with decorated base and side handles included in the exhibition of Ming Furniture, and illustrated by Grace Wu Bruce in the Catalogue, no. 24. A pair of similar bookcases, together with another single example, are in the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, Hong Kong