Lot 64
64
A RARE HUANGHUALI TOWEL RACK, JINJIA

Details
A RARE HUANGHUALI TOWEL RACK, JINJIA
EARLY 18TH CENTURY

The toprail terminating in elaborate lingzhi fungus above hanging spandrels of stylized chi dragons, the side posts joined by three upper stretchers, the top two enclosing a ruyi cloudhead above a central panel carved with an aquatic scene of four pairs of mandarin ducks, a pair in mid-flight, the others amidst lotus blossom, buds and pods, the reverse depicting the back view of the scene, the two base stretchers enclosing a pierced panel above a cusped, beaded apron, the standing spandrels in the shape of arched upright dragons, above shoe feet carved with animal masks in low relief
74 3/8in. (189cm.) high, 24 3/8in. (62cm.) wide, 16½in. (42cm.) deep
Literature
Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 176, no. 82

Lot Essay

No other comparable towel rack appears to exist

A miniature wood example excavated from the tomb of Pan Yunzheng, Shanghai, included in the exhibition, Beyond the Screen, is illustrated by Nancy Berliner in the Catalogue, p. 152, no. 301