Page 137 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

117 TP Y
A PAIR OF HONGMU AND HUALI
ARMCHAIRS
19th century
Each with stepped toprails above upright
backs with central splats carved and pierced
with design of bat suspending fruiting peach
branches within archaistic scrolls and flanked
by key-fret designs, the wide elbow rests
on similar archaistic scroll supports, over a
solid seat and above splayed aprons with
scroll details and mouldings leading to robust
square-section supports with hoof feet.
Each 101.5cm (40in) high x 89.5cm (35 1/4in)
wide x 58cm (23in) deep (2).
£18,000 - 24,000
CNY160,000 - 210,000
十九世紀 紅木花梨木扶手椅成對

The present pair of armchairs exemplifies the
influence of Western decorative designs on 117
Chinese furniture during the Qing dynasty.
The curling and upturning acanthus leaves of
the backrests, blending elegantly within the
interlocking designs of stylised chilong, were
certainly drawn from the repertoire of Rococo
art. Compare with four related hongmu chairs,
Qing dynasty, which were sold at Christie’s
Hong Kong, 4 April 2017, lot 206.

118 TP Y
A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI HORSESHOE-
BACK CHAIRS
Qing Dynasty
Each with a rectangular seat supporting a
slightly curved splat carved in low relief with
a lobed panel depicting a bat suspending
a tasselled chime, beneath the horseshoe-
shaped back carved in the centre with a further
bat, resting on curved supports forming the
arms and extending through the seat into the
straight rail legs, the aprons at the front and
sides carved with ruyi scrolls and the legs
joined above the feet with four stretchers.
Each 108cm (42 1/2in) high x 62cm (24 1/2in)
wide x 48cm (18 7/8in) deep (2).
£8,000 - 12,000
CNY70,000 - 110,000
清 黃花梨福磬紋圈椅成對

The present pair of huanghuali chairs is a
direct continuation of late Ming/ early Qing
dynasty horseshoe-back chairs; for a related
carving on the back splat, see a huanghuali
chair, Qianlong, illustrated in The Complete
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum:
Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
Beijing, 2007, pl.58. For a similarly carved 118
apron on a zitan armchair, 18th/19th century,
see C.Evarts, Splendor of Style: Classical
Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
Taipei, 1999, p.88. Thus the bat and chime
together symbolise wealth and prosperity.
Compare with a related pair of huanghuali chairs
which was sold at Bonhams London, 14 May
2015, lot 284.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 135