Page 67 - Chinese Works of Art Christies South Kensington Nov. 2015

PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION

■ 604

A PAIR OF LARGE ‘DRAGON’ ZITAN COMPOUND
CABINETS AND HAT-CHESTS, SIJIANGUI
18TH CENTURY

清十八世紀 紫檀雲龍紋四件櫃一對

Each cabinet is of square-corner form and has panel doors
opening from the removable centre stile to reveal the
interior set with one shelf incorporating two drawers. Each
door is elaborately carved with a large writhing dragon
amongst clouds, and the hat-chests are similarly carved,
above a stepped apron carved with confronting dragons
divided by a faming pearl amongst clouds.

74 in. (188.5 cm.) high, 36æ in.(93.5 cm.) wide, 22 in. (56

cm.) deep (2)

£20,000-30,000 $31,000-45,000
€28,000-41,000

PROVENANCE:

A distinguished private European collection, acquired
between 1956-1959.

‘Four-part wardrobes’, sijiangui, were often made in pairs.
Garments and large items would have been stored in the
lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept
in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder due to
their massive size.

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