A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI
A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI
A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI
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A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI
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Property of a Gentleman
A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI

17TH CENTURY

细节
A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI
17TH CENTURY
37 in. (119.4 cm.) high, 25 1/2 in. (64.7 cm.) wide, 19 in. (48.2 cm.) deep
来源
The Gangolf Geis Collection of Fine Classical Chinese Furniture
Sold at Christie’s New York, 18 September 2003, lot 38 (cover lot, fig.1)
更多详情
The yoke-back armchairs are constructed of fine huanghuali, each ‘official’s hat’ toprail with strongly swept-back ends supported on round corner posts which continue through to the back legs. The well matched backsplats are flanked at the sides by openwork ruyi-scroll flanges, pierced and exquisitely carved in deep and layered technique from both sides with a ruyi-shaped cartouche enclosing auspicious emblems surrounding a lion on one and a spotted deer on the other. The out-scrolled arms supported on sinuous tapering stiles and curved front posts with beaded cloud spandrels continue through the rectangular frame of the soft mat seat to form the front legs, which joined in front by beaded scrolling aprons and long flange spandrels carved with dragons, lotus buds, ruyi and clouds, with similarly carved aprons and spandrels on all four sides, and with a shaped footrest and stepped stretchers, each with a curvilinear apron carved with dragon heads or leafy tendrils .

荣誉呈献

Marco Almeida (安偉達)
Marco Almeida (安偉達) SVP, Senior International Specialist, Head of Department & Head of Private Sales

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拍品专文

The name guanmaoyi or ‘official’s hat-shaped chair is derived from its resemblance to the winged hat that was part of the formal attire of the Ming officials. They were regarded as high chairs and retained a connotation of status and authority associated with the elite gentry in Chinese society. The classical text Lu Ban jing [Manuscript of Lu Ban], a 15thcentury carpenter’s manual, gives specifications for these chairs and describes the joinery as the embodiment and fine example of Chinese furniture.

The present chairs are distinguished by their elaborate and refined carving, particularly in the most unusual, pierced medallion in the splat. Invariably pairs, or sets, of chairs have uniform decoration, identical, within the given parameters of hand carving, from chair to chair.

These chairs, and another two appear to come from the same set, the pair from the Cissy and Robert Tang Collection sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2023, lot 2705. The Tang chairs have different animals carved to the back rest, a qilin on one, and two mythical animals on the other (figs.2a.b).

It has been suggested by Curtis Evarts in his foreword in the Christie’s catalogue when the current pair of chairs was auctioned in 2003 that this decoration might relate to rank badges or some sort of hierarchical seating arrangement amongst family or guests. It is also most unusual to find such elaborate carved decoration to the aprons beneath the seat and beneath the foot stretcher and side and back stretchers. These elaborately carved chairs were crafted by an exceptional master carpenter.

Please note these lots incorporate material from endangered species which could result in export restrictions. You should check the relevant customs laws and regulations before bidding on this lot if you plan to import the lot into another country. Please refer to Christie’s Conditions of Sale.

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