A rare pair of huanghuali round-corner openwork cabinets, Late Ming - early Qing dynasty | 明末至清初 黃花梨梳子面條櫃一對

Formed in the standard round-corner style, this pair of cabinets is unusual in showing openwork doors and side panels. Instead of being used for storing clothes, cabinets of this design fall into the category of bookcases for a scholar's library. A cabinet like this could be used for storing valuable books, scrolls, or even antiques. Since the design allows for airflow, it helps to prevent mildew from developing.

Lattice panels have a long history in China, particularly in the gardens of Southern China as illustrated in one of the earliest publications of Chinese garden designs, the Yuanye. Dated to 1631, Yuanye was compiled and published by the famous garden architect Ji Cheng (1582-1642). The book had a profound influence on furniture design, particularly in southern China. Chinese cultural creative, spiritual and philosophical precepts are embedded within the geometric patterns. Latticework was done by a specialized group of carpenters familiar with the technical demands unique to the craft.

A larger zitan open work cabinet of similar form, originally from the collection of Mrs Chen Mengjia, is illustrated in Wang Shixiang, tr. Sarah Handler, Classic Chinese Furniture, London, 1985, pl. 135; three related openwork cabinets in various sizes are published in Karen Mazurkewich, Chinese Furniture. A Guide to Collecting Antiques, North Clarendon, 2006, pls 331, 338 and 339.

對櫃為圓角櫃樣式，三面圓材直欞，內設層板，線條優美流暢、層次分明，突顯工匠功力，詮釋了中國古典家具簡約美學的傳統神韻。 

中國古代家具設計與古代建築設計密不可分，大部分的設計源於建築設計，而梳子式設計源自用於門窗的柳條式戶槅。僅存一部中國古代園林著作，明末造園家計成著《園治》裏筆者圖文並茂地介紹了不同樣式的柳條式戶槅：「時遵柳條槅，疏而且減，依式變換，隨便摘用。」

梳子（柳條）櫃樣式製作難度大，耗材費時，頗考工匠的能力，傳世品中少見。陳夢家夫人舊藏一件紫檀櫃子與此對相似，錄於王世襄及 Sarah Handler，《Classic Chinese Furniture（中國古典家具）》，倫敦，1985年，圖版135。另見三例大小不一，同有直欞設計，錄於 Karen Mazurkewich，《Chinese Furniture. A Guide to Collecting Antiques》，克拉侖敦，2006年，圖版331、338及339。