A PAIR OF ZITAN SQUARE STOOLS, FANGDENG

Details
A PAIR OF ZITAN SQUARE STOOLS, FANGDENG
LATE 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY

The soft-mat seat enclosed by the large square frame with thick rounded edge and conforming 'wrap-around' molding creating a double band above straight 'wrap-around' stretchers, between which are short vertical struts dividing each side into three sections, each grooved to receive panels with oval beaded openings, the small plain spandrels beaded, all supported on legs of circular section, the spandrels of one stool replaced
20½in. (52cm.) high, the top 24 3/4in. (63cm.) square (2)
Literature
Yang Naiji, "The Beauty of Perfect Roundness", JCCFS, Summer 1993, p. 35, fig. 6
Sarah Handler, "The Ubiquitous Stool", JCCFS, Summer 1994, p. 14, fig. 18
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 38, no. 18

Lot Essay

For a discussion of the influence of bamboo furniture on hardwood forms, in features such as the 'wrap-around' stretchers, see Ronald W. Longsdorf, "Chinese Bamboo Furniture, Its History and Influence on Hardwood Furniture Design", Orientations, January 1994, pp. 76-83