A HUANGHUALI THREE-DRAWER COFFER, GUICHU

17TH CENTURY

Details

A HUANGHUALI THREE-DRAWER COFFER, GUICHU
17th Century
The top with everted ends and 'ice-plate' edge above three short drawers, each mounted with a baitong swing handle escutcheon, all above the compartment with removable central stiles, flanked by two doors and two outer panels, the lockplate, pulls and hinges all of baitong, and supported on slightly splayed rectangular legs within a pair of beautifully carved openwork spandrels depicting dragon, lingzhi, and foliage, the apron plain and with short spandrels
33in. (83.5cm.) high, 84 1/3in. (214cm.) long, 21in. (53.7cm.) 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. 114-115, cat. 44.

Exhibited

Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 20 September-24 November, 1991.
National Heritage Board, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 1996-1999.

Lot Essay

Compare a three-drawer coffer with similar proportions and dragon spandrels, illustrated in Ming Furniture, Ltd., 1987, p. 15, no. 12.

For a discussion of this form, refer Curtis Everts, "The Enigmatic Altar Coffer," Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society, Autumn 1994, pp. 29-44.

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