Page 279 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Chinese Art
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This cabinet is striking for its large yet elegant diminutive. In the novel Hong lou meng [Dream
form, enlivened by the attractive contrasts of the red chamber] by Cao Xueqin (d. 1763),
created through the use of huanghuali and the Granny Liu describes her astonishment at seeing
natural burls that grow on a tree trunk and root, such wardrobes at the Jia family’s mansion: “That
which create wonderful patterns that appear great wardrobe of yours is higher and wider than
alive. Although highly sought after by scholars of one of our rooms back home. I’m not surprised
the Ming and Qing period, burlwood was rarely you keep a ladder in the backyard… it must be for
used on furniture as large boards were difficult getting things out of the compartment on top of
to obtain. The unexpected and delightful swirling that wardrobe of yours, for you could never reach
patterns created by the burls well suited the it else” (in Sarah Handler, Austere Luminosity
literati who were attracted by nature’s intrinsic of Chinese Classical Furniture, Berkley, 2001, p.
beauty. 262).
Known as sijiangui (four-part wardrobes), A pair of similar huanghuali cabinets with huamu
cabinets of such grand size and surmounted boards, from the collection of Robert Hatfield
with ‘hat chests’ were designed to convey Ellsworth, was sold at Christie’s New York,
monumentality and strength. They were 18th March 2015, lot 131; and a larger pair is
commonly displayed both in the reception illustrated in George N. Kates, Chinese Household
rooms of a stately home, and in the women’s Furniture, New York, 1948, pl. 1. See also a pair
apartments, where they were used to store of huanghuali and zhengmu cabinets, but with a
garments. Their scale altered any sense further two panels above the lockplate, was sold
of proportion rendering other forms quite at a Christie’s New York, 15th September 2011,
lot 1357.
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