each with a well-figured rectangular top composed of two boards secured in a wide frame with three tranverse stretchers on the underside, above a recessed waist and a slightly rounded apron extending into four square legs joined by a 'twisted rope' stretcher, all supported on hooved feet, finely carved overall in low relief, the side rails with wan symbols, the waist with detached 'H'-shaped motifs detailed with key-fret, the apron with a band of pendent leaves above a lipped edge extending down the legs to form angular scrollwork on the feet, the hooves picked out with an upright acanthus, the top and apron further embellished at the corners with 'cloud'-shaped metal mounts detailed with different beribboned auspicious items, the stretcher inset with a central studded white jade bi-disc and further halved discs joined to the legs, flanked with lobed blue-ground cloisonné plaques decorated with multi-coloured lotus
An American private collection, New York, acquired before 1945.
The two tables are overall in good condition with expected wear and minor repairs to reinforce the joints or filled age cracks.
First table:
There are some repairs showing on the underside, mostly expected reinforcements at the joints. Some wood sections of the medallions of the rear twisted rope apron have detached and been reaffixed. One of the quatrefoil medallions enclosing a cloisonné plaque is chipped at the back on the top. There are some age cracks on the legs which have been filled in with wax. Otherwise the carvings and mounts are overall in good condition. There is a forked triangular chip at one end of the top's central plank which has been filled in with a small wood section and secured with wax.
Second table:
There are some repairs showing on the underside, mostly expected reinforcements at the joints. The table top has been secured to the frame with two metal bracket hooks which can be removed. Some sections of the medallions along the twisted rope aprons have detached and been reaffixed. There is some wear to the twisted rope aprons with light touch-up in areas, either at the joints or on the frame of the medallions. There are some age cracks to the legs which have been stabilized with wax, more pronounced on the front right legs which also has a shallow chip 5.5 x 1 cm to a corner edge on the interior. The actual color is somewhat consistent with the catalogue illustration if not a little bit brighter and of a warmer mahogany 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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
The present pair of tables stand out for their fine carving and attractive inlay decoration in two contrasting mediums of jade and enamel cloisonné enamel. Qing period furniture with inlay decoration reflected splendour and luxury, although it was generally the rule that the greater the value of the furniture, the less inlay was needed. As may be seen from these tables, the inset archaistic white jade
bi discs and enamel plaques, attached by stretchers skilfully carved in simulation of an extended twisted rope, are delicate and effective. A related jade-inlaid
bi-disc motif on stretchers may be found on a
kang table made in
zitan wood, illustrated in Hu Desheng in
A Treasury of Ming and Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture from The Palace Museum Collection, vol. 2, Beijing, 2008, p. 483, fig. 598; and on a table decorated with the same twisted rope design holding jade
bi discs published in Tian Jiaqing,
Classic Chinese Furniture of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1995, p. 176, pl. 76. Comparable decoration, but carved in wood, may also be seen on a red sandalwood table, attributed to the Qianlong period, included in
The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasty (II), Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 92, together with a
kang table decorated with a copper twisted-rope attachment, pl. 144. The decoration seen on these tables is also reminiscent of a black lacquer table with stretchers shaped like a cord with suspended jade
bi-like ornaments mounted with cloisonné enamel panels with
shou characters, included in Hu Desheng,
op.cit., p. 240, fig. 271, and also in
The Two Hundred Pieces You Should Know. Red Sandalwood Furniture, Beijing, 2008, pl. 159, from the Palace Museum, Beijing, and attributed to the mid-Qing period.
The surface fitted gilt-brass metal mounts seen on the present tables are also special and provide a striking contrast to the natural tone of the wood. Hu Desheng, ibid., p. 504, notes that lustrous and eye-catching mounts of the Ming and Qing periods confirm the skilful talent of furniture makers who were extremely adept at integrating decorative and functional aspects in their construction. Two types of installation techniques for metal mounts on furniture were developed in China: flush-fit mounts and surface-fitted mounts. Flush-fit mounts were inlayed into a carved recess that matched the shape and thickeness of the mount so that when placed on the wood it would lie flush with the surface. Flush fit attachments are cleverly concealed, as they are inserted from the back of the furniture piece. Surface-fitted mounts, as seen here, are fitted directly onto the surface with bosshead nails, creating a more luxurious and eye-catching decorative effect compared to its flush-fit counterpart. For examples of metal mounts found on Qing period furniture, see ibid., figs. 623-625, including a zitan table with a cloisonné enamel flush-fit mount, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, fig. 622. The table is also illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasty (II), op.cit., pl. 90. Further, compare a table depicted in situ at the east end of the Chonghua Gong (Palace of Double Brilliance) in the Forbidden City, embellished with gilt mounts cast with dragons, published ibid., pl. 259.
