A HUANGHUALI CONTINUOUS YOKEBACK ARMCHAIR (NANGUANMAOYI) 17TH CENTURY

the arched crestrail flattened in the center and curving down to join the backward sloping rear posts continuing through the frame to form the back legs, the well-figured wide rectangular S-shaped splat tenoned to the underside of the yoke and into the back rail of the seat frame, the serpentine arms pipe-jointed to shaped front uprights continuing through the frame forming the front legs and reinforced by shaped tapering braces mid-section, the rectangular seat frame enclosing a hard mat seat, the outside edge molded and tapering inwards to a beaded edge, above crescent-outline beaded aprons, the slightly splayed legs joined by stretchers of ascending height

The chair with two filled splits to 'yoke' and stabilizing fill at the base of the splat. There is a patch repair to the inside of one front arm post and one of the mid-section arm supports might be a replacement. The joints are a bit loose overall. There have been some possible replacements to the bracketed aprons and stretcher aprons. The surface is dry and bleached in places from sun exposure. There has been some water staining.
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.

A pair of similar armchairs with shaped aprons is illustrated in Robert D. Jaobsen and Nicholas Grindley, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, pl. 9. In discussing the form the authors conjecture that the inspiration for the continuous top and arm rails might be found in bent bamboo construction popular in the Song and Ming dynasties and cite an illustration of the Wanli period Kunqu opera The Tale of the Jade Hairpin showing a pair of speckled bamboo tall back chairs with continuous crestrails. In addition, pottery examples of this form were found in the tomb of Pan Yunzheng dated to 1589, ibid, p. 52.