Page 154 - Important Chinese Art, Sotheby's London May 15 2019

154

PROPERTY FROM AN ENGLISH PRIVATE Chairs of this elegant design are strikingly Two closely related pairs of chairs were sold in
COLLECTION modern in their seeming simplicity. The fluidity our New York rooms, the first, 14th September
A GOOD HUANGHUALI HORSHOE- of their form, achieved through the continuous 2011, lot 140, and the second, 25th April 1987,
BACK ARMCHAIR, QUANYI curved crest rail that functions as both a back lot 564, later sold again at Christie’s New York,
LATE 16TH/EARLY 17TH CENTURY and an arm rest, has ensured the continued 15th September 2011, lot 1335; another pair was
popularity of this design. Commonly referred
sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 3rd October 2017,
with curving toprail sloping down to the arms to as quanyi and “horseshoe-back chair”, these lot 3641; and two chairs were sold at Christie’s
supported on serpentine side posts and armchairs were seats of honour and, when New York, one 21st March 2004, lot 18, and the
terminating in a curved hook beyond the corner draped with sumptuous textiles, they gave their other, from the collection of Robert H. Ellsworth,
posts set with shaped spandrels, the backsplat sitters a commanding presence. Frequently 18th March 2015, lot 139. See also a pair of
carved with a ruyi-shaped panel enclosing depicted in Ming and Qing dynasty woodblock il- chairs of this type but carved on the splat with
dragons, the back corner posts continuing lustrations, they were also used informally while a slightly more elongated ruyi head, sold in our
below the rectangular frame, with mat seat, dining, painting or receiving guests, and with New York rooms, 3rd June 1992, lot 325.
to the back legs joined by stretchers and a the addition of two carrying poles, they became
footrest with plain shaped apron sedan chairs reserved for officials of high rank.
100.8 by 58.7 by 45.5 cm, 39⅝ by 23⅛ by
17½ in. This elegant and light-weight design derives
from chairs made of pliable lengths of bamboo,
PROVENANCE bent into a ‘U’-shape and bound together using
natural fibres. Cabinet makers cleverly adapted
Purchased from Grace Wu Bruce, 22nd June
1998. this design to hardwood furniture by develop-
ing ingenious joinery techniques. In order to
◉ W £ 80,000-120,000 create the continuous back, members were
HK$ 825,000-1,240,000 fitted together with a cut-out to accommodate a
US$ 105,000-158,000 tapered wood pin that would lock them firmly in
place when inserted. The complexity of the de-
明末 十六世紀末至十七世紀初 sign required utmost precision, as a slight error
黃花梨圈椅 in the tilt of any of the joins would be magnified
by the adjoining members.
來源
於1998年6月22日購自嘉木堂

detail

152 Buyers are liable to pay both the hammer price (as estimated above) and the buyer’s premium together with any applicable taxes and Artist’s Resale Right (which will depend on the individual circumstanc-
es). Refer to the Buying at Auction and VAT sections at the back of this catalogue for further information.