A HUANGHUALI SQUARE TABLE WITH REMOVABLE LEGS, FANGZHUO

Details

A HUANGHUALI SQUARE TABLE WITH REMOVABLE LEGS, FANGZHUO
17TH CENTURY

The paneled top within a square frame with 'ice-plate' edge above a narrow waist and apron of arched, curvilinear form, the inner corners decorated with curled leaf motifs, the upper, 'outer' section of the legs of cabriole shape with hoof 'feet' fitting over the circular, removable 'inner' legs connected by double side stretchers and joined to the underside of the table top by sliding tenons
34¼in. (87cm.) high, the top 39 3/4in. (101cm.) square

Literature

Sarah Handler, "Square Tables Where the Immortals Dine", JCCFS, Autumn 1994, p. 21, figs. 27a and 27b
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 106, no. 50

Lot Essay

For a full discussion of this kind of 'winter-summer' table, doubling up as a low kang in winter and high dining table in summer, refer to Sarah Handler, "On a New World Arose the Kang Table", JCCFS, Summer 1992, pp. 44-45, in which she also illustrates a plain huanghuali table of this type with crossed stretchers

There also appear to be tables that simulate this form, yet do not have removable legs. See Craig Clunas, Chinese Furniture, p. 59, no. 47, for such an elaborately carved example