Page 288 - Important Chinese Art Sothebys March 2019

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propertY From a north amerICan prIVate
CoLLeCtIon
A MASSIVE ‘HUANGHUALI’ AND
HARDWOOD RECESSED-LEG TABLE
(QIAOTOUAN)
MING DYNASTY AND LATER
a long, well figured, single-plank top set with
everted ends, supported beneath by four
transverse stretchers and a narrow, molded
frame with beaded edges, forming a straight
apron above boldly carved stylized phoenix-
head spandrels, flanking the rectangular-
section legs, with rounded fronts, beaded
edges, and joined by square-section stretchers
enclosing a rectangular openwork beaded-edge
panel of vigorously confronting chilong amid
scrolling lingzhi, and shaped foliate carved
aprons beneath, all supported on elegantly
cusped and barbed slab feet
height 36¾ in., 93.3 cm; Width 93¾ in., 238.1
cm; Depth 15⅜ in., 39 cm
the form of the present table is described
in Wen Zhenheng’s Treatise on Superfluous
Things, the late 17th century guide to good
taste, as a bizhuo or side table to be placed
against a wall and used for display a set with
items of religious or ceremonial significance.
although the author also decried the use of
excessive carving, the lively openwork of the
panels is effectively balanced by the long board
top and elegant simplicity of the apron and
spandrels.
examples of qiaotouan with splayed feet are in
several museums such as the nelson-atkins
museum, Kansas City and the metropolitan
museum of art, new York. this form is
discussed and illustrated in Wang shixiang,
Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, hong
Kong, 1989, nos. B86-7. a very similar table of
tielimu is illustrated in hu Desheng, A Treasury
of Ming & Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture, vol. I,
Beijing, 2007, pl. 306.
◉ $ 100,000-150,000

明及以後 黃花梨拼硬木夾頭榫獨
板面龍紋檔板翹頭案

286 SOTHEBY’S Important ChInese art