PROPERTY OF A LADY
A PAIR OF ‘HUANGHUALI’ AND 'HUALI' ‘CRACKED-ICE’ LOW-BACK ARMCHAIRS (MEIGUIYI), QING DYNASTY
Auction Closed
September 23, 08:35 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A PAIR OF ‘HUANGHUALI’ AND 'HUALI' ‘CRACKED-ICE’ LOW-BACK ARMCHAIRS (MEIGUIYI)
QING DYNASTY
清 黃花梨拼花梨木冰裂紋玫瑰椅一對
each with the rounded corner top rail pipe-joined to the stiles continuing through the seat frame to form the back legs, the arms with similar round corners mortised, tenoned and half-lapped to the stiles and pipe-joined to the posts, the rectangular chair back enclosing a slender frame joined by latticework forming an asymmetrical ‘cracked ice’ pattern, repeated on the arm panels, all joined by stretchers and struts mortised and tenoned to the molded edge frame securing the matting seat, above the mitered apron tongue and grooved to the legs, joined by stepped stretchers (2)
Height 33⅛in., 84 cm; Width 23¼in., 59 cm; Depth 17¾in., 45 cm
Alan Koppel Gallery, Chicago, circa 1995.
來源
Alan Koppel Gallery，芝加哥，約1995年
Often referred to as 'rose' chairs, this type with low rectangular arms and back is the smallest among the classic forms. Its slender, elegant lines and compact proportions encourage portable and functional ease making it one of the more popular forms and one often depicted in paintings and prints in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is shown in a variety of settings accentuating its versatility.
The present pair is noteworthy for the bold asymmetry and restraint of its panel decoration. The openwork design on the panels is described in Ji Cheng’s influential book, the Yuanye or The Garden Treatise (1631) as binglieshi ‘cracked-ice’ decoration, where the simple yet lively lines are recommended as ideal for lattice panels. The auspicious design serves to heighten the rich luminosity of the costly huanghuali wood and varying light sources would create an intriguing network of shadows throughout the day. Compare a pair in the Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon, acc. no. 83.38.391.