Lot Essay
It is unusual to find dragons depicted in this way on the projecting ends of chair arms, except on the arms of folding horseshoe-shaped chairs, such as the one in lot 50
Details
A RARE HUANGHUALI HORSESHOEBACK ARMCHAIR WITH HUANGYANGMU INLAY, QUANYI
17TH CENTURY
The round curving toprail continuing in a wide sweep to the arms, sloping down and extending in a curved hook beyond the corner posts, the projecting ends inlaid in boxwood with lively chi dragons, the rectangular backsplat also with a boxwood inlay, ogival medallion enclosing a stylized shou character and with beaded flanges below the toprail, the circular corner posts continuing below the frame with a soft-mat seat to the back legs, the legs joined at the rear with a low stretcher and at the sides with double stretchers, the front legs with a curved beaded apron, the footrest above a plain apron, the long, slender, serpentine side posts supporting the arms, the darker tone of the huanghuali forming a pleasing contrast with the paler, blondish boxwood
39 3/8in. (100cm.) high, 23¼in. (59cm.) wide, 18 1/8in. (46cm.) deep
17TH CENTURY
The round curving toprail continuing in a wide sweep to the arms, sloping down and extending in a curved hook beyond the corner posts, the projecting ends inlaid in boxwood with lively chi dragons, the rectangular backsplat also with a boxwood inlay, ogival medallion enclosing a stylized shou character and with beaded flanges below the toprail, the circular corner posts continuing below the frame with a soft-mat seat to the back legs, the legs joined at the rear with a low stretcher and at the sides with double stretchers, the front legs with a curved beaded apron, the footrest above a plain apron, the long, slender, serpentine side posts supporting the arms, the darker tone of the huanghuali forming a pleasing contrast with the paler, blondish boxwood
39 3/8in. (100cm.) high, 23¼in. (59cm.) wide, 18 1/8in. (46cm.) deep
Literature
Craig Clunas, "Chinese Furniture and Western Designers", JCCFS, Winter 1992, p. 63, fig. 6
Sarah Handler, "Outstanding Pieces in Private Rooms: Chinese Classical Furniture in New American Collections", Orientations, January 1993, p. 49, fig. 8
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 58, no. 27
Sarah Handler, "Outstanding Pieces in Private Rooms: Chinese Classical Furniture in New American Collections", Orientations, January 1993, p. 49, fig. 8
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 58, no. 27