Page 160 - 2019 September 13th Christie's New York Important Chinese Works of Art

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, MARYLAND
~888
A RARE PARQUETRY-EMBELLISHED ZITAN
CORNER-LEG TABLE, TIAOZHUO
LATE 18TH-19TH CENTURY
The top is composed of a foating panel fnely inlaid with square pieces of zitan,
huanghuali, and nanmu in a geometric pattern set in a rectangular frame with
‘water-stopping’ molding and ‘ice-plate’ edge. The narrow waist is carved
with a continuous ruyi border above a fnely beaded apron. The whole is raised
on legs of square section framed by shaped spandrels carved with archaistic
scroll, and terminating in scroll-form hoof feet.
31¡ in. (79.7 cm.) high, 34æ in. (88.2 cm.) wide, 14√ in. (37.7 cm.) deep
$80,000-120,000

The parquetry design seen on the present table is an example of the cross
cultural exchange between Europe and China during the Qing dynasty.
Parquetry, and the related technique marquetry, was a European practice
seen in furniture from the 18th century, whereby woods of contrasting
color and grain were mixed to create complex geometric patterns and foral
designs or landscape scenes.
A small zitan chest dated to Qianlong period, displaying a harlequin design
worked in marquetry using various type of wood including huanghuali and
hongmu is illustrated in M. Flacks, Classical Chinese Furniture III: Woods of
China, Autumn 1998, New York, p. 34-35, no. 18.
清十八世紀晚期/十九世紀 紫檀嵌錦地紋條桌

(detail)