A FINE AND RARE IMPERIAL 'ZITAN' 'DAHLIA' TABLE (TIAOZHUO) QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of long rectangular form constructed of well-figured, tightly-grained zitan wood members, supported by straight legs of square section terminating in stylised inverted scroll feet, the sides joined by elaborate aprons, each finely carved in relief with an intricate flower scoll centering on a large dahlia bloom, all below a waisted frieze similarly decorated with a finely carved stylised leafy scroll, the underside with transverse braces

Frank Caro, New York,  2nd October 1967 (according to invoice).

The table was later reinforced with blocks to all four legs. The top panel was later reinforced with glue. There are minor fills to all four legs. When acquired in 1967, the table was covered in shellack, which was typical of that time to preserve the surface and color; the shellack was subsequently removed from the table top and then polished. The shellack can easily be removed and the table can revert to its original color. Some minor chips to the carving on the aprons. One narrow side of the table has been exposed to the sun and the wood is of a slightly greyish tone.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present table illustrates the influence that the European Baroque style had on the decorative repertoire of 18th century Chinese art. The Qianlong period is generally considered the zenith of Chinese artistic and cultural production. It was also an era when the confrontation with and reception of European art introduced to the Imperial Qing court by Jesuit missionaries, brought to fruition elaborate projects such as the Yuanming Yuan complex in Beijing. Fascination with the decorative repertory and iconography of Western decorative arts manifested itself in smaller objects as well, and this table is such an example.

Carved from the rare and expensive zitan wood, the intricate 'dahlia' scroll embellishing the apron and spandrels is related to the 'rocaille' motif found in the architectural elements of the Yuanming Yuan complex. Compare, for example, the border at the grounds of the fountain on the Western Facade of the Palace of the Tranquil Sea as depicted in an etching of Yuanming Yuan, illustrated in From Beijing to Versailles: Artistic Relations between China and France, Hong Kong, 1997, pp. 260-261, pl. 100. The fountain is anchored by a large conch shell sculpture nestled in the center. This composition is echoed in the carving on the present table, where the dahlia's sumptuous bloom anchors the scrolling border.

The table is rare, as only one comparable table has been published, illustrated in Tian Jiaqing, Zitan Yuan (The Essence of Zitan), Beijing, 2007, no. 4, pp. 22-29. The 'dahlia' motif appears in the decoration of other zitan furniture in the Qing court collection, compare, for instance a table of similar size, also embellished with an apron featuring the 'dahila' scroll, illustrated in The Complete of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, p. 134, no. 119 (Fig. 1); for other examples compare ibid., p. 66, no. 55, and p. 143, no. 127.