Page 110 - Bonhams, The H Collection, Classical Chinese Furniture, May 13, 2021 London

(underside)

This elegant bench is notable for its rather large dimensions of the Pictures of the Three Realms’ Sancai Tuhui, a Ming dynasty
prized huanghuali wood and sturdy appearance, achieved through encyclopedia published in 1608, also illustrates a bench of similar
the square-sectioned legs which gently splay outwards. Benches design, see Wang Qi, Sancai Tuhui, Shanghai, 1995, p.16.
were very popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties as they were highly
functional: their relatively light weight and soft-cane seat allowed air Compare with a related but smaller huanghuali bench, 17th century,
circulation, making them ideal to be used both indoors and outdoors. illustrated by C.Evarts, A Leisurely Pursuit: Splendid Hardwood
In addition, their large size and sturdy construction allowed them to Antiquities from the Liang Yi Collection, Hong Kong, 2000, pp.56-
also function either as daybeds or as support for displaying small 57, no.6. See also a huanghuali bench, 17th century, with square
treasured objects. members but a hard seat, illustrated in the University Museum Art
Gallery, Classical Chinese Huanghuali Furniture, Hong Kong, 2016, no.
According to the ‘Classic of Lu Ban’ Lu Ban Jing, a 15th century 26. Finally, a line drawing of a bench with square members and cloud-
manual on carpentry, benches were classified according to their shaped spandrels is illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of
size: large benches were known as ‘spring benches’ chundeng, long Chinese Furniture. Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, vol.2,
and narrow examples were referred to as tiaodeng, while benches 1990, pl.A53.
accommodating two people were named errendeng. A line drawing
of tiaodeng, from the late Ming version of the Lu Ban jing, is illustrated A related recessed-leg huanghuali bench, 17th century, was sold at
by G.Wu Bruce, Ming Furniture, Hong Kong, 1995, p.60. The ‘Twelve Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 11 July 2020, lot 131.
Volumes of Useful Objects’ Qiyong Shier Juan in the ‘Assembled

108 | BONHAMS