LATE MING-EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH-18TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI LOWBACK ARMCHAIRS, MEIGUIYI
LATE MING-EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH-18TH CENTURY
Each is composed of members fitted together with characteristic pipe joints. The back is formed by an open rectangular back frame, decorated with beaded aprons carved with keyfret scrolls on the three sides, the hard-panel seat enclosed in the rectangular frame. The back pillars and the arms are joined by T-shaped railings and continue to form the four legs, embraced together along the lower legs by a foot rest, two side stretchers and an ascending back stretcher.
33 7/8 in. (86 cm.) high; 22 5/8 in. (57.5 cm.) wide; 17 7/8 in. (45.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

A Massachusetts private collection
Sold at Sotheby's New York, 22 March 1995, lot 393

Brought to you by

Chi Fan Tsang

chinese@christies.com +852 2760 1766

Lot Essay

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. The current pair of chairs is particularly rare as they retain their original solid hard-panel seat, while many other examples from the same period had their seats replaced with soft mat.

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