Page 178 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

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A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF HUANGHUALI ‘FOUR CORNERS
EXPOSED OFFICIAL’S HAT’ ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOU
GUANMAOYI
17th century
Each composed with a shaped headrest supported by the solid-
panel S-shaped backsplat, the sinuous protruding arms supported
by S-shaped side posts and goose-neck front posts, the rectangular
seat frame enclosing a hard woven mat and supported on circular legs
joined by a curved apron above stepped stretchers and a foot rail, the
wood patinated to a rich reddish tone.
Each 118.2cm (46 1/2in) high x 58cm (22 6/8in) wide x 50cm
(19 6/8in) deep. (2).

£150,000 - 200,000
CNY1,300,000 - 1,800,000

十七世紀 黃花梨四出官帽椅 一對

Provenance: a British private collection

來源： 英國私人收藏

The ‘four corners-exposed’ form is one of the earliest classic forms collection, is illustrated in S.Handler, Austere Luminosity of Chinese
found in huanghuali furniture chair design. Early forms of this chair can Classical Furniture, Berkeley, 2001, p.54, fig.4.14 (one of a pair);
be seen in murals at Dunhuang dating from the Sothern and Northern a further similar armchair is illustrated in R.H.Ellsworth, Chinese
dynasties, which have seen further evolvements through the Tang Hardwood Furniture in Hawaiian Collections, Honolulu,1981, no.10;
and Song dynasties; see Quincy Chuang, ed., Fine Ming and Qing and compare another closely related armchair with four protruding
Furniture in the Shanghai Museum, Hong Kong, 1998, p.36. ends and cloud motif on splat and tendril on apron, Ming dynasty,
from the Wang Shixiang collecton, illustrated in Wang Shixiang,
The present pair of armchairs represent one of the most sculptural Classic Chinese Furniture – Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Bankok,
forms of Chinese furniture from the late Ming period. The graceful and 1986, pl.46; see also a further similar example, in the collection of the
sinuous shaping of the frame members resonate with dynamism and Central Academy of Arts and Crafts, Beijing, illustrated in Chen Zengbi,
elegance, and the vigorously shaped top rails resemble the protruding Zhongyang Gongyi Meishu Xueyuan Yuancang: Zhenpin Tulu [Central
wings of the hats worn by Ming officials, hence known as ‘officials’ hat Academy of Arts and Crafts: Illustrations of collections], vol.2: Mingshi
chairs. The flat ends of the yokes and arms impart a restrained inner Jiaju [Ming Furniture], Hong Kong, 1994, p.23.
strength reinforcing the stately presence of the chairs.
A similar single huanghuali high yokeback armchair, late Ming dynasty,
Compare a very similar pair of huanghuali yokeback armchairs, of slightly smaller size and with a medallion on the splat, was sold
16th/17th century, illustrated in Splendor of Style: Classical Chinese at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 6 April 2016, lot 108; compare also a pair
Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taipei, 1999, p.82; of huanghuali yoekback armchairs, 17th century, which was sold at
another similar example, circa 1600, from the John W. Gruber Sotheby’s New York, 11-12 September 2012, lot 218.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
176 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.