Page 62 - Christies THE LAI FAMILY COLLECTION OF FINE CHINESE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART
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919 Large tables are often erroneously labeled
A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE MASSIVE painting tables, but to be considered a true
NANMU-INSET HUANGHUALI PAINTING painting table, such as the present table, which
TABLE, HUA’AN measures an extraordinary 34 inches deep, the
17TH CENTURY surface must be broad enough to accommodate
a large painting and the accoutrements
The massive single nanmu panel is set into associated with painting or calligraphy (ink,
a thick huanghuali frame with beaded edge, ink stones, brushes, and washers, etc.). Tables
above plain beaded aprons and cloud-form of this large size would also be ideal for the
spandrels. The thick legs are of rounded appreciation of a painting.
section and are joined by pairs of stretchers
enclosing openwork panels above plain, Several examples of this elegant form have been
beaded aprons and spandrels, and are ftted published. See R.H. Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture:
with brass shoes. One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and
34 in. (86.4 cm.) high, 94¡ in. (239.7 cm.), Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996,
wide, 32 in. (81.4 cm.) deep pp. 164-5, no. 61, where it is dated circa 1600-
1650; and G. Ecke, Chinese Domestic Furniture,
$1,000,000-1,500,000 Vermont and Tokyo, 1962, p. 46, pl. 36.
PROVENANCE: 明末清初 黃花梨嵌楠木大畫案
Property from the Lai Family Collection.
LITERATURE:
S. Handler, ‘A Clean Table by a Bright
Window’, Journal of Classical Chinese
Furniture, Spring 1994, fg. 11.
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