Page 151 - SOTHEBYS MARCH 18 AND 19 2025

This extraordinary altar table, known among Beijing The construction of the present table, with integral panels
cabinetmakers as a qiaotou’an, is distinguished by the between the front and back legs, reduced the number of
construction of its top from a single plank of richly grained overall component parts to a handful: the top, the four
huanghuali. It is also striking for its precise and lively aprons, and the two leg and panel pieces. Compared to a
carving that reveal a master workshop, from the vivid typical recessed-leg table, those of the present type could
chilong spandrels with their bodies coiling into scrollwork, be dismantled and transported much more easily. An image
to the confronted chilong that decorate the panels between of a similar qiatou’an, demounted into its few component
the legs, and the fine ‘incense-stick’ beading on the legs parts, is illustrated by Robert D. Jacobsen and Nicholas
which make the table appear taller. Grindley in Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, p. 128.
Placed against the south wall of a grand hall, this table
would have had a commanding presence, leaving no doubt Compare the present example with a demountable
as to wealth and social standing of its owner. Such long qiaotou’an of similar proportions in the collection of the
rectangular tables with recessed legs and upturned ends Minneapolis Institute of Arts (accession no. 97.25.1a-I),
were generally placed in reception halls where important illustrated by Robert D. Jacobsen and Nicholas Grindley
male visitors were received and family ceremonies took in ibid., p. 127, cat. no. 42. Also composed of a single
place. The prominent scholar Wen Zhenheng (1585-1645) plank of slightly longer but narrower dimensions, the
in his influential Chang wu zhi [Treaties on superfluous Minneapolis example also features incense-stick beading
things], refers to tables of this design, made from a single to the legs, with ornate coiled chilong decoration of slightly
plank of wood as “natural tables” and explains that their varied design to the spandrels and panels between the
“length should not exceed eight feet, nor the thickness legs. Another demountable ‘single-plank’ qiaotou’an,
of the top five inches. The end flanges must not be too considerably wider but of similar depth, resides in the
sharp, but smooth and rounded, which is the antique collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession
pattern.” Ironically, Wen also advises against excessive no. 1996.339) (Fig. 1) illustrated by Sarah Handler in
ornamentation: “Do not carve the vulgar patterns such Austere Luminosity of Classical Chinese Furniture, Berkeley,
as dragons, phoenixes, flowers and grasses.” Despite his 2001, p. 237, fig. 14.16, with remarkably similar decoration
remonstrations, several ornately-decorated examples, to the spandrels and the trestle panels, with addorsed
including the preset example, are known, exemplifying the chilong amidst scrollwork on the former and coiled chilong
myriad furniture tastes of the late Ming dynasty. confronting a flaming jewel on the latter.

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