6 Exquisite Examples of Chinese Craftsmanship

6 Exquisite Examples of Chinese Craftsmanship

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  Property from Eberhart Herrmann
  A Chinese silk and metal thread brocaded dais carpet, circa 1800, inscribed 乾精宮御用 Qianjing gong yu yong; ‘For Imperial use in the Palace of Heavenly Purity’
  Estimate £50,000-80,000

  Estimate £50,000-80,000.During the Ming Dynasty, the Palace of Heavenly Purity (or Qianqing Palace) was the residence of the Emperor. Later, when the Yongzheng Emperor ascended to the throne during the Qing Dynasty, it was used as the Emperor’s audience hall, where he held court and council, received emissaries and held banquets. This carpet may well have been a dais cover, placed at the top of the steps that led to the Emperor’s throne.
  

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  The Larsson lion-dog medallion with 'hundred antiques' dias carpet, Ninghsia, West China, first half 18th century
  Estimate £50,000-80,000

  This carpet combines two important motifs: lion-dogs and the ‘hundred antiques’ design. The lion-dog is an emblem of courage, a guardian against evil, and a symbol of spiritual strength. Here, with one coloured in darkest blue and the other in light gold, they recall the yīn and yang. The ‘hundred antiques’ design – depicting ‘culturally significant objects’ – emerged in the mid-17th century, signifying the continuity of Chinese culture during the turbulent years marking the transition between the Ming and the Qing dynasties.

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  Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. The Scofield Thayer Ninghsia carpet, West China, late 17th century
  Estimate £50,000-80,000

  Dragons were associated with Imperial authority and the nature of the universe, and were thought to embody the same dynamic forces that animated clouds. Carpets produced in Ninghsia in the reign of Emperor Kangxi – like the Scofield Thayer carpet – differ from earlier Wanli examples in their less naturalistic depiction of dragons, moving to a more stylised or symbolic rendering. In this exquisite and highly sophisticated example, the dynamic tension created between implied polygons and circles creates a remarkable sense of both movement and stillness.

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  Property from a German Private Collection. A Good Pair of 'Huanghuali' 'Official's Hat' Armchairs, Qing Dynasty, 17th/18th century
  Estimate £20,000-30,000

  Known as guanmaoyi or ‘official hat-shaped chairs’ due to their resemblance to the winged hats of Ming officials, huanghuali yokeback armchairs of this type were associated with the status and authority of the elite in Chinese society. Their elegance lies in their vertical lines which extend outwards slightly as they rise from the seat to lighten the overall effect. Also known as nanguanmaoyi or ‘southern official's hat chairs’, this pair of armchairs is notable for the undulating silhouette of the crestrails, which is echoed by the out-curved armrests and reinforced by the foliate scrolls along the front apron.

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  Property from a German Private Collection. A 'Huanghuali' Corner-Leg Table, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th Century
  Estimate £30,000-50,000

  Pleasing in proportions and elegant in form, tables of this type have been amongst the most admired since the late Ming dynasty as evidenced in their consistent popularity throughout subsequent periods. Earlier huanghuali tables of this type include a smaller version, attributed to 1550-1650, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; one attributed to the early Qing dynasty, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing; and a third table, attributed to the 18th century, sold in our New York rooms on 15 September 2010.

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  Property of a Gentleman. A Fine 'Huanghuali' and Nanmu Corner-Leg Table, 17th/18th Century
  Estimate £60,000-80,000

  A sense of refined grandeur is successfully captured by the minimalist form of this attractive table, supported by four elegant square legs culminating at horse-hoof feet. This simple design also highlights the rich colour and attractive natural patterns of the grain of the wood. Long tables such as this are known as tiaozhuo, and would have been used in scholars’ studios, their length and the absence of stretchers making them suitable for sitting at for the creation and admiration of scroll paintings, while holding books, brush holders and other scholar’s objects.

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