QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Chairs of this type are known as meiguiyi in the north but in the south they are known as wenyi or scholar's chair. The form is characterised by its low regular back and it is thought that when placed in the scholar's studio, it would fit neatly under the window without obstructing the view outside. It is interesting to note that the rectangular back is fitted with four sides of aprons similar to the pair of low-back chairs illustrated in Chinese Furniture, One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, p. 85, no. 22. An almost identical pair previously in the Feng Wen Tang Collection was sold in Christie’s Hong Kong, 3 June 2015, lot 2812 (fig. 1).

This item is made of a type of Dalbergia wood which is subject to CITES export/import restrictions since 2 January 2017. This item can only be shipped to addresses within Hong Kong or collected from our Hong Kong saleroom and office unless a CITES re-export permit is granted. Please contact the department for further information.