17TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI 'SOUTHERN OFFICIAL'S HAT' ARMCHAIRS, NANGUANMAOYI
17TH CENTURY
Each elegantly curved crestrail is supported by the S-shaped splat and round-section rear posts which continue through the seat to form the rear legs. The S-shaped arm rails are supported by outward-curving, tapering stiles and backward-curving front posts. The mat seat is set in a rounded, rectangular frame above shaped, beaded aprons and beaded spandrels. The legs are of round section joined by stepped stretchers and a foot rest at front.
37 ½ in (95.3 cm.) high, 20 ½ in. (52.1 cm.) wide, 16 ¼ in. (41.3 cm.) deep

Provenance

Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, October 1996.

Exhibited

Denver Art Museum, 2004-2017.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

A pair of huanghuali ‘southern official’s hat’ armchairs from the collection of the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, similarly left undecorated, with the exception of a ruyi-form roundel on the backsplat, was sold at Christie’s New York, Important Chinese Furniture, Formerly in the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection, 19 September 1996, lot 47. Similar to the present example, this pair of chairs has diminutive proportions suggesting that the chairs may have been a special commission. To accommodate the smaller proportions, the arm rails are steeply angled and have a wide outward curve, an elegant and unusual feature.

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