Page 430 - Bonhams Chinese Art London May 2013

fig.1 A zitan portable stationary folding desk, Qianlong; im- 392 w
age courtesy of the Palace Musem, Beijing. A rare portable stationary folding desk
Mid Qing Dynasty
426 | Bonhams Formed of two hinged panels closing to form a box and cover or
opening to form the surface of a desk, the four folding legs joined
by hinges to the corners inside the box and cover and terminating in
square scrolls, the outside corners reinforced with brass plates and
a brass lock mounted in the centre of the outside edge, the interior
lacquered brownish-red.
Opened as a desk, 119.5cm x 55cm x 45.8cm high
(47in x 21½in x 18in high)
£20,000 - 30,000
HK$240,000 - 350,000 CNY190,000 - 280,000

清中期 旅行文具箱

The present portable stationary folding desk is extremely rare in its form
and design. Indeed, the only other known close example is in the Qing
Court Collection and is described as possibly unique in the history of
Chinese furniture. The Qing Court Collection folding desk is made of
zitan and attributed to the Qianlong period; see Chumei Ho and Bennet
Bronson, Splendors of China’s Forbidden City: The Glorious Reign of
Emperor Qianlong, London, 2004, p.98, pl.108; and Ming Qing Gu
Gongting Jia Zhu Da Guan, vol.II, Beijing, 2006, p.653. pls.765 (1-2)
(see fig.1 left).

The folding desk would have originally contained, in addition to the
folding legs, also a stationary box, candlestick and writing instruments
and was probably used by the Emperor during his travels.

The neat mechanism is based on the two halves, formed by the open
box and its cover, aligned side by side, thus forming the desktop. Each
leg, compactly turning on a hinge, is carefully folded into the interiors
of the box and cover, thus achieving a compact form whilst also
protecting the legs. When upright the legs are secured into place by
turning pegs revolving into slots in the legs.