Page 173 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art November 2018

Tables such as the present lot would have furnished various halls Furniture adorned with archaistic elements including stylised chilong
in the Forbidden City and other Imperial palaces. See for example and archaistic scrolls, such as those found on the present lot, existed
a related carved zitan table furnishing the Cui Yun Guan or Hall of since the Ming dynasty; see for example, a zitan chair with similar
Green Cloud, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasure of the archaic motifs, Ming dynasty, illustrated in Imperial Furniture of Ming
Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong and Qing Dynasties: Classics of the Forbidden City, Beijing, 2008,
Kong, 2002, no.263. See also a jichimu altar table, early Qing dynasty, p.97, no.92. This archaistic style gained popularity during the middle
similarly decorated with kui dragons, illustrated in The Complete Qing dynasty but it also illustrates the influence that the European
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming Baroque style had on the decorative repertoire of 18th century Imperial
and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong, 2002, p.168, no.142. furniture and art. Compare also the carving on the aprons and legs
as well as the feet with those on a square huanghuali table from the
Qing Court Collection, Qianlong, illustrated in The Complete Collection
of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing
Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, p.98, no.86.

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