18TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE PAIR OF NANMU-INSET JICHIMU ARMCHAIRS
18TH CENTURY
Each has a tall curved nanmu back splat inscribed with a poetic inscription followed by a signature, Qichang, and a seal Xuanzai and Taishishi respectively, that extends above the openwork back and side rails carved as archaistic scrollwork. The wide rectangular hard mat seat is above a narrow waist and plain apron, supported on square-section legs joined by a base stretcher of conforming shape.
32 ½ in. (82.3 cm.) high, 23 7/8 in. (60.7 cm.) wide, 19 ¾ in. (50.2 cm.) deep

Provenance

The Collection of Dr. Frank E. (1897-1971) and Lillian (1907-1986) Whitacre, acquired between 1938-1939, and thence by descent within the family.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Vicki Paloympis (潘薇琦) Head of Department, VP, Specialist

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The inscriptions on each chair are taken from the poems composed by the Tang dynasty poets Liu Yuxi (AD 772-842) and Qian Qi (active circa AD 751) respectively, and can be translated as “Instant ecstasy upon seeing [one’s] elegant demeanor,” and “Golden orioles fly into the forest in February.”

The calligraphy in which the two inscriptions are executed is in the style of Dong Qichang (1555-1636), a calligrapher, painter and theoretician of the late Ming dynasty. Xuanzai was Dong's alternative name and Taishishi appears to be the inscription on one of his personal seals.

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