Page 174 - Nov. 27, 2019 Christie's Important Works of Art HK

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
~ 3052

A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI LOWBACK PROVENANCE
Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, 1990
ARMCHAIRS, MEIGUIYI
A European private collection, 2001
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
Chairs of this type are known as meiguiyi, or rose chairs, in Northern
Each armchair is composed of members fitted together with China, while in the South they are known as wenyi or scholar's chair.
characteristic pipe joints. The back is formed by an open The form is characterised by its low regular back and it is thought that
rectangular back frame, decorated with beaded aprons carved with when placed in the scholar's studio, it would fit neatly under the window
without obstructing the view outside. Smaller and less formal than the
keyfret scrolls and a gallery rail with narrow struts running around
yoke-back or horseshoeback armchair, the low-back armchair is often
the enclosed rectangular soft mat seat on three sides. The back more ornately decorated. It was first popular in the Ming dynasty for its
pillars and the arms continue to form the four legs, embraced by light construction and elegant appearance.
plain aprons below the seat and along the lower legs by a foot rest,
A closely related rose chair is in the Beijing Palace Museum collection,
two side stretchers and an ascending back stretcher.
illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
32ƒ in. (82.4 cm.) high (2) Museum – Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong,
2002, p.51, no. 37 (fig. 1)
HK$1,500,000-2,500,000
US$200,000-320,000

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