A PAIR OF ZITAN DEMILUNE TABLES (YUEYAZHUO) QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY

each of a similar D-form, with a scrolling apron well-carved with flowering vines which continue around the back, resting on four rectangular section barbed legs similarly carved in relief, joined by a conforming low stretcher base (2)

Property from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Sotheby's New York, 9th October 1987, lot 492.

Both top panels with splits to the boards and each with a narrow strip patch. There are chips to the edges of all four back legs; one of which has a large chip where the top of the leg joins the back apron. One back leg with a filled split and a patch repair to the inside top corner of the foot. All joints have been consolidated and surface with expected wear overall.
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.

This half-moon-form of table was often made in pairs. The tables could be used either separately or pushed together to form a round. The present pair is unusual in that the back is also carved which conveys both the additional expense of commissioning this added luxurious element for an already lavish use of highly sought after zitan wood and the added flexibility of being able to place them away from the wall where the carving could be admired. Two similar tables are illustrated in Hu Deshang, A Treasury of Ming & Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture, vol. 1, Beijing, 2007, pp. 174-175, figs. 178 and 179. For a general discussion on 'D'-shaped tables, see Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, vol. I, Hong Kong, 1990, p. 73.