A huanghuali 'dragon' daybed (chuang), Ming dynasty, 17th century. Photo courtesy Sotheby's

of typical waisted corner-leg form, the seat frame with mitered, mortise and tenon construction, joined by three bowed transverse stretchers, surmounting a scrolling apron finely carved on the  front and sides with beaded edges and archaistic confronting chilong amidst clouds, the back scrolling apron, beaded, centered by two strands of entwined grasses, with lion masks in shallow relief on each corner, all raised on cabriole legs ending in exaggerated scrolling cloud feet. Height 21 1/2  in., 55 cm; Width 88 3/4  in., 224.5 cm; Depth 50 in., 126 cm. Estimate 200,000 — 300,000 USD

Provenance: Ho Cheung, Hong Kong.

Note: Wen Zhengheng (1585-1645) in Zhangwu zhi (Treatise of Superfluous Things), dated to the late Ming dynasty, describes the placement of ta and luohan chuang in a variety of spaces, for instance in an open drawing room, "The long summer is well-suited for an open room.  All the windows can be removed with wutong trees shading the front and bamboo at the back.  The room should have an exceptionally large, long wood table placed at the very center. Along each of the two side walls, place a daybed and a large screen..." (Hu Desheng, The Palace Museum Collection, A Treasury of Ming & Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture, vol. 2, Beijing, 2008, p. 676.) Additionally woodblock illustrations and paintings from the Ming dynasty depict the use of these moveable beds both flush against a wall or free standing and usually in male environs; the scholar's studio, the receiving areas of the master's rooms, and in outdoor gatherings. The surfaces of these forms are also shown piled with books, scrolls, antiques, musical instruments and game boards confirming their status as an important possession for a gentleman scholar.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York | 17 Sep 2013 - http://www.sothebys.com