A magnificent pair of zitan compound cabinets and hatchests, sijiangui, 19th century

13 février 2018

A magnificent pair of zitan compound cabinets and hatchests, sijiangui, 19th century

Lot 962. A magnificent pair of zitan compound cabinets and hatchests, sijiangui, 19th century; 94 3/8 in. (239.8 cm.) high, 45 in. (114.3 cm.) wide, 21 3/8 in. (54.4 cm.) deep. Estimate USD 550,000 - USD 750,000. Price realised USD 600,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

Each cabinet is of massive rectangular form. The hatchest has square panel doors, elaborately carved in deep relief with a single dragon chasing a flaming pearl amidst clouds, above the larger cabinet set with single-panel doors finely carved with four five-clawed dragons chasing a flaming pearl amidst swirling clouds, below a single horizontal panel carved with dragons confronting a flaming pearl. The doors are centered around a removable stile, and open to reveal the shelved interior, above the shaped apron carved en suite with confronting dragons. Each cabinet is fitted withbaitong metal hardware and the feet are clad in baitong sabots.

Note: Massive in size and richly carved with dynamic five-clawed dragons against a dense landscape of swirling clouds, the present pair would have been important furnishings in creating an imposing and majestic interior space. The present pair of cabinets are related to a pair of zitan compound cabinets and hatchests located in the bedroom behind the Yang Xin Dian(The Hall of Mental Cultivation), photographed in situ in The CompleteCollection of Treasures of the Palace Museum – 54 – Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, p. 296, pl. 249. which exhibits the sumptuous effect of an interior space furnished with highly ornate zitan furniture.

Cabinets of this type were commonly constructed in pairs and could be placed on opposing walls, flush with each other, or separated by a smaller piece of furniture, like the pair in the Yang Xin Dian. Due to their impressive size, compound cabinets were intended to serve as a central focal point of the interior space. Garments and large items would have been stored in the lower cabinets, while smaller items would have been kept in the top chests, often requiring the use of a ladder. Fitted with shelves and oftentimes with drawers, their generous size made them ideal for storing long scrolls, bolts of fabric, garments, and books.

Constructed from the precious hardwood, zitan, the present pair represent an extremely luxurious use of a rare wood that was highly valued during the Qing dynasty. Zitan is a general term which includes numerous species of wood, however, it is commonly agreed that it belongs to the genus Pterocarpus. A purplish-black, fine-grained hardwood, zitan was considered the most prized hardwood by the Chinese. The density of the wood makes this material especially suitable for fine and intricate carving. The wood's scarcity was compounded by the fact that the trees themselves are slow growing and require centuries to fully mature into usable material. Although local sources of zitan exist in the southern provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi, much of the material was imported from Southeast Asia. As an imported commodity, its use was scrupulously monitored and carefully restricted at the Imperial workshops.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 14 - 15 September 2017, New York

Posté par Alain Truong à 16:14 - Commentaires […] - Permalien [#]

Tags: 19th century, zitan, compound cabinet and hatchest, sijiangui