Page 166 - SOTHEBYS MARCH 18 AND 19 2025

Sumptuously carved with auspicious wan motif railings supported by posts and the lack of walls merges outdoor
and sinuous chilong medallions, this magnificent canopy and inner space. The sophisticated openwork railings recall
bed is an extraordinary example of seventeenth-century a building’s balustrade, which have the dual function of
aristocratic splendor. Employed in the inner quarters by both creating interest through their decoration and increasing
men and women, beds were the focal point of the house’s stability. In addition, the upper panels under the canopy
private setting, and six-post canopy beds were the most roof are carved to allow air circulation similarly to the
luxurious and impressive type of bed that one could own. panels under the eaves of buildings.
While used by both sexes, canopy beds were particularly The design of the present example balances the intricacy
important pieces of furniture in the women’s domestic of carving found in the railings and canopy panels with the
setting. Seventeenth-century households that adhered to simplicity of form in the legs and aprons that is characteristic
Confucian norms confined women to the inner courtyards of of late Ming dynasty furniture. The aprons of the frame are
a family compound, away from the front of the house where cusped in the traditional late Ming style, with a generous
important male visitors were received and official functions beaded edge, which extends onto the sturdy cabriole legs;
took place. Bedrooms were informal rooms where women the latter terminate in ruyi-form feet with a single leaf
spent many of their waking hours, thus their furnishings, extending from each outward corner. The six posts are
especially the bed, were important status symbols, indicating interspersed with ornate railings, with panels of interlocking
their position within the family. wan motif composed of short, intricately joined, square
members below a band of circular medallion struts carved
During the daytime, canopy beds were used as seats for in the form of coiled chilong. At the canopy, the wan motif is
informal leisure: a long table and footstool were placed in again found in a single panel that stretches across the length
front of the bed for comfortable reading or eating, while a of the front of the bed. More sedately-carved shaped aprons
few stools and chairs could be arranged around the bed for a with foliate details at the corners extend below the wan
casual gathering. At night, curtains were draped from within panel at the front, and across the back and sides just below
the bedframe to protect from drafts or insects, as well as the canopy. The canopy panel is joined with interlocking
prying eyes. These curtains were carefully chosen as their members in a simple, ‘cracked ice’ pattern. The two side
color and patterns complemented the intricate openwork aprons each have two circular apertures, possibly later
carving of the railings. The seventeenth-century scholar added, for hanging drapery.
Wen Zhenheng, in his influential Zhang wu zhi [Treaties on
Superfluous Things], discusses which fabrics should be used A very closely related example, with wan motif railings
on canopy beds: “Bed curtains for the winter months should and similarly shaped aprons on the frame, resides in the
be of pongee silk or of thick cotton with purple patterns. Palace Museum in Beijing, illustrated by Wang Shixiang in
Curtains of paper or of plain-weave, spun-silk cloth are both Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, vol. II, Hong Kong,
vulgar, while gold brocaded silk curtains and those of bo silk 1990, p. 135, pl. C17; the Beijing example, however, lacks
are for the women’s quarters.” the gallery of chilong medallion struts above the wan motif
railings found on the present example. Another very closely
Most importantly, beds were where children were conceived related example, which includes the chilong medallion struts
and their decoration is often filled with auspicious omens that but above railings with a ruyi motif, is in the collection of
reflect this function. On this bed, sinuous chilong – young the Shanghai Museum, illustrated on the Museum’s website
hornless dragons – dominate the design and represent the (accession no. CI00004130). Compare, also, with a similar
aspiration of conceiving meritorious sons; the wan motif found but slightly more elaborate example with a waisted frame,
within the railings represents prosperity and longevity.
formerly in the collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung, sold
Six-post canopy beds are essentially a room within a room in our London rooms, 7th December 2022, lot 40 (Fig. 1),
as their design aesthetic mirrors principles of Chinese as well as another more ornate example formerly in the
classical architecture. Their six-post construction mimics Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture sold in our Hong
three-bay buildings such as pavilions, where the roof is Kong rooms, 9th October 2020, lot 53.

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