Page 112 - Chiense works of art sothebys march 14 2017 nyc

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PROPERTY FROM A CALIFORNIA FAMILY
COLLECTION

A PAIR OF ‘ZITAN’ YOKEBACK
ARMCHAIRS
QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH
CENTURY

each with a gently curving crestrail slightly
attened and widened towards the center and

ending in rounded swept back ends, the bowed
rear posts tenoned to the underside of the
‘yoke’, extending through the seat rail forming
the back legs, the serpentine-form splat with
a beaded circular medallion enclosing a lush
peony bloom borne on a lea ng branch, the
sinuous arms supported on recessed shaped
braces and tapering S-form center stiles, the
molded rectangular seat frame of standard
miter, mortise and tenon construction ending in a
molded, inward tapering beaded edge, enclosing
a hardwood seat, the front apron cusped and
barbed with beaded edge extending to long ange
brackets, the sides with beaded crescent-form
aprons, the slightly splayed legs joined by four
stretchers of ascending height, the foot rest with
shaped apron (2)
Height 47 in., 119.4 cm; Width 22½ in., 57.2 cm;
Depth 18⅝ in., 47.3 cm

PROVENANCE
Acquired in the 1960s-80s, and thence by
descent.
Ming-style zitan armchairs are rare. The dense,

ne grain of the wood allows the carver to create
very spare lines and crisp details. The resinous
quality of the wood creates a mellow luster which
subtly highlights the elegant movement of the
chairs’ sinuous lines. A similar zitan armchair,
attributed to the Ming dynasty, with the same
carved center medallion but with continuous
arms is illustrated along with a detail of the peony
medallion in Wang Shixiang, Classic Chinese
Furniture Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Hong
Kong, 1991, pl. 50. A pair of plain yokeback
armchairs, also attributed to the Ming dynasty,
is illustrated in Zitan The Most Noble Hardwood,
Hong Kong, 1996, pp 34-35.

$ 60,000-80,000

1960 1980

110 SOTHEBY’S