19TH-20TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF LARGE 'DRAGON' ZITAN COMPOUND CABINETS AND HAT-CHESTS, SIJIANGUI
19TH-20TH CENTURY
Each cabinet is of square-corner form and has panel doors opening from the removable centre stile to reveal the interior set with one shelf incorporating two drawers. Each door is elaborately carved with a large writhing dragon amongst clouds, and the hat-chests are similarly carved, above a stepped apron carved with confronting dragons divided by a flaming pearl amongst clouds.
74 in. (188.5 cm.) high, 36 ¾ in.(93.5 cm.) wide, 22 in. (56 cm.) deep

Provenance

A distinguished private European collection, acquired between 1956-1959.

Special notice

All sold and unsold lots marked with a filled square in the catalogue that are not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the day of the sale, and all sold and unsold lots not cleared from Christie’s by 5:00 pm on the fifth Friday following the sale, will be removed to the warehouse of ‘Cadogan Tate’. Please note that there will be no charge to purchasers who collect their lots within two weeks of this sale.

Sale room notice

Please note the dating of the current lot should read: 19th-20th century

Lot Essay

'Four-part wardrobes', sijiangui, were often made in pairs. Garments and large items would have been stored in the lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder due to their massive size.

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