A HUANGHUALI CLOTHES RACK, YIJIA

Details

A HUANGHUALI CLOTHES RACK, YIJIA
LATE 17TH CENTURY

The slender, rounded posts joined by a toprail terminating in upward-curving lingzhi fungus, and three other rails, including a pair of central rails, with 'cracked-ice' latticework, all with 'S-shape' corner spandrels, the shoe feet incorporating cloud motifs and joined by a latticework shelf, the hanging and standing spandrels of stylized chi dragon form
72in. (183cm.) high, 65in. (165cm.) wide, 18in. (46cm.) deep

Literature

Sheila Keppel, "The Well-Furnished Tomb", Part I, JCCFS, Summer 1992, p. 19, fig. 15
Sarah Handler, "Outstanding Pieces in Private Rooms: Chinese Classical Furniture in New American Collections", Orientations, January 1993, p. 46, fig. 2
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 172, no. 80

Lot Essay

The 'cracked-ice' latticework on this clothes rack appears to be quite unusual. See Wang et al., p. 172, where it is mentioned that it signifies marital pleasures in old age. This design is found on the low-backed chair illustrated by Robert H. Ellsworth in Chinese Furniture, p. 121, no. 13

An example of a clothes rack with a more regular lattice pattern was included in the exhibition, The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, and illustrated by Grace Wu Bruce in the Catalogue, no. 55