A HONGMU CLOTHES CHEST, YIXIANG

17TH CENTURY

Details

A HONGMU CLOTHES CHEST, YIXIANG
17th Century
Of rectangular form and unusually large size, the wood of smoothly-grained texture perfectly matched between lid and base, with a floral patterned circular lockplate set flush, cloud-form hasp, bail handles and inlaid hinges all of huangtong, with attractive exposed dovetail joints at all four corners
22in. (56cm.) high, 37in. (94.5cm.) wide, 25in. (63.4cm.) deep

Literature

Grace Wu Bruce, Dreams of Chu Tan Chamber and Romance with Huanghuali Wood: The Dr. S Y Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1991, pp. 110-11, cat. 42.
Yip Shing Yiu, "Collecting Ming Furniture of Huang Hua-Li Wood," Arts of Asia XXI:3 (May-June 1991), p. 121, fig. 14.

Exhibited

Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 20 September-24 November, 1991.
Denver Art Museum, 1996-1999.

Lot Essay

Two types of clothes chests are described in the classic carpenter's manual the Lubanjing, the yixiang and the yilong. For a discussion of these chests and an example in huanghuali, see R.D. Jacobsen, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1999, pp. 190-191, no. 69.

It is rare to find examples of hardwood chests in large sizes. The present lot may be the largest one known.

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