Page 65 - Bonhams, The H Collection, Classical Chinese Furniture, May 13, 2021 London

in the Shanghai Museum. Here, a lovesick court lady is depicted sitting See a related huanghuali single-bed, Ming dynasty, late 16th/early 17th
on a platform with slender horse-hoof feet, appearing to converse with century, displaying a waisted frame and lacking the side stretchers,
a parrot looking down from his elegant metal pedestal. In addition, illustrated by G.Ecke, Chinese Domestic Furniture, London, 1962,
a woodblock illustration by Ding Yunpeng (1547-c.1621) depicts a pl.19.15. Two other examples are illustrated by S.Handler, Austere
scholar joyfully ensconced with his book and scroll on a large platform. Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture, Berkeley and Los Angeles,
Leaning on a semi-circular armrest, he appears to be waiting for the 2001, p.116 and by R.H.Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture: Hardwood
refreshments being carried by his attendant. Finally, ‘Waves on the Examples of the Ming and Early Ch’ing Dynasties, New York, 1971,
Bank’, a handscroll by Shen Zhou (1427-1509) shows a contemplative no.38, p.146. Finally, a pottery miniature figure of a platform exhibiting
scholar seated on a platform in front of a large single-panel screen a similar frame to the present example, in the Shanghai Museum,
before the open door of his country retreat overlooking a small stream; Shanghai, was unearthed from the Ming dynasty tomb of Pan Yuan
see S.Handler, Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture, Zheng (1589), illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of
Berkeley, 2001, p.117, fig.8.15, p.118, fig.8.18 and p.121, fig.8.22. Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1990, vol.1, pl.1.3a.

The patrons of Ming furniture makers preferred simple lines and Furniture made of exceptionally large single-planks of huanghuali
structural simplicity to elaborate carving and sumptuous decoration. In wood would have been extremely rare and expensive to make at
addition, at the time, the strength rather than the grain of the wood, was the time, and is still highly expensive today. See, for example, a
considered the most important feature of platforms, so they were often magnificent and very rare massive huanghuali plank-top pedestal
constructed with the wood obtained from the centre of the tree, which table, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Christie’s New York,
was less prone to warping if it had been aged and cured for a long time. 22 March 2013, lot 1323.

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