A FINE AND RARE HUANGHUALI THREE-DRAWER ALTAR COFFER, LIANSANCHU

Details

A FINE AND RARE HUANGHUALI THREE-DRAWER ALTAR COFFER, LIANSANCHU
17TH CENTURY

Of unusually generous dimensions, the paneled top with ice-plate edge supported on the slightly splayed legs of rectangular-section and with rounded outer corners, the legs enclosing an upper row of three drawers, each fitted with a baitong square escutcheon backing a bail handle below the cusped, shaped apron and spandrels, the lower single-plank panel of excellent figuration and between the two horizontal stretchers, the lower stretcher joining the legs at midpoint and above the plain apron with apron-head spandrels repeated at the angle of the top and legs
32½in. (82.5cm.) high, 72in. (183cm.) wide, 21in. (53.5cm.) deep

Lot Essay

Three-drawer altar coffers with lower, single plank panels running the length of the front of the coffer are rare. A very similar huanghuali three-drawer altar coffer is in the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, Renaissance, California. See, also, an example of almost identical width illustrated by Robert H. Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture, New York, 1970, p. 251, pl. 61 and a more common example with the lower panel composed of two short planks, illustrated by Ellsworth, ibid., p. 251, pl. 60