Composed of a five-section back rail joined with pressure-point scarf joints terminating in returning knop hand rests supported by beaded-edge carved spandrels and by front posts and back stiles which run through the seat to form the four legs, s-curved side braces and an elegant curved back splat carved into the richly figured wood with a ruyi-shaped medallion enclosing confronted split-tailed dragons above a bed of cloud scrolls and tenoned into the frame mitered, mortise-and-tenon frame drilled for soft cane seat with two transverse stretchers on the underside, the finely detailed apron carved on the front and sides with central geometric cloud scrolls echoed on the half-lapped brackets extending down the front posts and tenoned into the foot rest which retains the metal guard, and set above a plain, squared apron to the front legs and joined to box stretchers. 

Provenance: Grace Wu Bruce, purchased 29 November, 1995.

Published: Grace Wu Bruce. Ming Furniture 30 October - 18 November 1995, no. 17.

Notes: See a pair of chairs sold Sotheby's, New York, March 1995, lot 431, as a closely related example.

This chair is an outstanding example of elegant design and richly figured wood. See a single chair from the Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, sold Christie's New York, Sale 11419, Lot 139, 18 March 2015; and a pair of chairs, without flanges to the back splat, sold Sotheby's Hong Kong, A Private collection of Ming furniture, sale HK0640, lot 117.

Bonhams. THE JOHN AND CELESTE FLEMING COLLECTION OF CHINESE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART, 2016-09-12 10:00 EDT - NEW YORK