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Lot Essay
00000ng Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, vol. I, Hong Kong, 1990, pp. 121-2, the author suggests that 'giant's arm' braces freed the underside of the table for the seated individual's legs while still fulfilling the function of shifting the weight of the table from its center to its legs. For a similar example, see Wang Shixiang, Classic Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 1986, p. 152, fig. 98. See also, an example with a narrow waist, sold in these rooms, September 16 1999, lot 98.
Most of the similar tables that have been published do not have 'giant's arm' braces, making the present example unusual. See, also, a larger table illustrated by R. D. Jacobsen and N. Grindley, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institue of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, pp. 120-1, no. 39. An example is illustrasted in M.D. Flacks, Classical Chinese Furniture VI, Spring 2003, pp. 13-21, no. 7. A huanghuali example with 'giant's arm' braces is illustrated by J. Ang in the catalogue of the exhibition, The Beauty of Huanghuali, Taipei, 14 October - 5 November, 1995, p. 48, pl. 17.
Compare a similar huanghuali narrow table, sold in these rooms, Important Chinese Furniture, Formerly the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection, 19 September 1996, lot 22. A longer version with upturned ends was sold, also in these rooms, The Gangolf Geis Collection of Fine Classical Chinese Furniture, 18 September 2003, lot 44. Compare also a table with panelled top and without everted flanges from the Mr. and Mrs. Robert Piccus Collection of Fine Classical Chinese Furniture, sold in these rooms 18 September 1997, lot 41.
Most of the similar tables that have been published do not have 'giant's arm' braces, making the present example unusual. See, also, a larger table illustrated by R. D. Jacobsen and N. Grindley, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institue of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, pp. 120-1, no. 39. An example is illustrasted in M.D. Flacks, Classical Chinese Furniture VI, Spring 2003, pp. 13-21, no. 7. A huanghuali example with 'giant's arm' braces is illustrated by J. Ang in the catalogue of the exhibition, The Beauty of Huanghuali, Taipei, 14 October - 5 November, 1995, p. 48, pl. 17.
Compare a similar huanghuali narrow table, sold in these rooms, Important Chinese Furniture, Formerly the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection, 19 September 1996, lot 22. A longer version with upturned ends was sold, also in these rooms, The Gangolf Geis Collection of Fine Classical Chinese Furniture, 18 September 2003, lot 44. Compare also a table with panelled top and without everted flanges from the Mr. and Mrs. Robert Piccus Collection of Fine Classical Chinese Furniture, sold in these rooms 18 September 1997, lot 41.