A rare large huamu-inset huanghuali 'four corner's exposed' armchair, sichutouguanmaoyi, 17th century. Estimate $200,000 – $300,000. Photo Christie's Image Lt 2015

The sweeping crest rail is supported by a C-shaped splat inset with an attractive huamu panel and the gracefully curved black legs which continue to form the feet. The soft mat seat is set within the rectangular frame above plain aprons and spandrels on all four sides. The legs are joined by stepped stretchers and a footrest, which is fitted with a removable bamboo cover, all above a plain apron. 42 7/8 in. (108.9 cm.) high, 22 in. (55.8 cm.) wide, 19 ¼ in. (48.9 cm.) deep

Provenance: Property from the Lai Family Collection.

Notes: The grand and stately proportions of the present chair are further distinguished by the richly patterned back splat carved from a single section of tightly knotted burl. The highly textured burl contrasts with the amber-yellow tones of the huanghuali members, striking a pleasing and refined aesthetic. Large sections of burl are difficult to find, as the tightly knotted grain is susceptible to splits and breaks, making this elegant C-form splat even more rare. A similarly proportioned 'southern official's hat' armchair, dated to the 17th-early 18th century, is illustrated by M. Flacks,Classical Chinese Furniture: a very personal point of view, London, 2011, p. 50-1. As with the present chair, the refined design of the chair is accentuated by the dramatic use of a single panel of abstract-patterned huamu burl.

The generous sweep of the splat provides the ideal surface to showcase the inherent beauty and variegated tone of Asian hardwoods. See a jichimu yokeback armchair of similar form and proportions, illustrated by Wang Shixiang and Curtis Evarts, Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, Chicago and San Francisco, 1995, pp. 52-3, no. 24, which shows similar treatment of the back splat. Unlike the present chair, the jichimu chair has a back splat constructed from three sections, with the largest section showcasing the feathery texture of the grain. Compare, also, another example currently in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, illustrated by R. Jacobsen, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, pp. 46-7, no. 6. The elaborate huanghuali yokeback armchair, features a three-part back splat comprising a large section of textured burl. 

Christie's. THE LAI FAMILY COLLECTION OF FINE CHINESE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART, 17 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza