18TH CENTURY

細節

A PAIR OF LARGE HUANGHUALI-VENEERED COMPOUND CABINETS, SIJIANGUI
18TH CENTURY
Each of massive rectangular form and beautiful graining, the hat chest with two square panel doors with a removable center stile, above the large cabinet with rectangular panel doors similarly fitted and with removable center stile, the doors opening to reveal the shelved interior and two 'trapdoor' covers of the hidden compartment fronted by a horizontal panel above a shaped apron carved in shallow relief with a central blossom from which extend trailing stems bearing smaller blossoms, fitted with round hinges, lockware and foot mounts
100 in. (254 cm.) high, 56 in. (142.2 cm.) wide, 22 in. (55.8 cm.) deep (2) (2)

來源

Robert Hatfield Ellsworth.

拍品專文

Known as sijiangui, 'four-part wardrobes', these compound cabinets were generally made in pairs. Garments and large items would have been stored in the lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder due to their massive size.

Compare a pair of compound cabinets from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, sold in these rooms, 19 September 1996, lot 30. See, also, the pair of similar cabinets in camphor dated to the 17th century illustrated by R. H. Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture: Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Early Ch'ing Dynasties, New York, 1971, p. 217, no. 131. A pair with plain aprons is also illustrated by R. H. Ellsworth et. al., Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, p. 189, no. 73.