Page 52 - Sotheby's Asia Week March 2024 Chinee Art

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PROPERTY FROM A WASHINGTON, D.C. PRIVATE 清末 黃花梨聯三櫥
COLLECTION
A ‘HUANGHUALI’ THREE-DRAWER ALTAR 來源：
COFFER (LIANSANCHU), LATE QING DYNASTY 得於1961至1968年之間
Height 35 in., 88.9 cm; Width 87 in., 221 cm;
Depth 20 in., 40.8 cm
PROVENANCE
Acquired between 1961 and 1968.
Long valued for its usefulness for both storage and display, this
form has enjoyed international popularity since the late Ming
dynasty. The term ‘altar coffer’ was coined by Westerners and
likely derived from imagery and accounts describing the surface
decorated with offerings and other items used for domestic
shrines. Additionally, coffers of larger size have traditionally been
utilized at religious sites. However, coffers such as the present
example, were versatile, particularly within a domestic setting,
and a variety of objects could be stored in its drawers and an
array of decorative items graced its long surface.
For a discussion and history of the altar coffer form, see
Wang Shixiang et al., Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture,
vol. I, Hong Kong, 1990, p. 92, and Curtis Evarts, ‘The
Enigmatic Altar Coffer,’ Journal of the Classical Chinese
Furniture Society, Autumn 1994, pp 29-44. See, also, a very
similar three-drawer coffer illustrated by Robert H. Ellsworth,
Chinese Furniture, New York, 1971, p. 163, no. 61. Two similar
coffers were sold in these rooms, 15th March 2016, lot 51 and
19th September 2015, lot 940. Compare also two examples
sold at Christie’s New York, 19th March 2021, lot 840 and a
two-drawer coffer sold 18th March 2015, lot 167.
◉ $ 40,000-60,000

138
A ‘HUANGHUALI’ SEAL CHEST, 17TH / 十七 / 十八世紀 黃花梨官皮箱
18TH CENTURY
Height 14⅞ in., 37.8 cm; Width 13¾ in., 35 cm; 來源：
Depth 11 in., 28 cm Robert and William Drummond，紐約，1958年6月
亞瑟•M•賽克勒 (1913-1987) 收藏
PROVENANCE
私人收藏，1974年得於上述處
Robert and William Drummond, New York, June 1958. 紐約佳士得2020年12月9日，編號155
Collection of Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987).
Private Collection, acquired from the above in 1974.
Christie’s New York, 9th December 2020, lot 155.
◉ $ 25,000-30,000

100 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11410 101