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14 octobre 2022

A very rare huanghuali painting table, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722)

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The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung. Lot 14. A very rare huanghuali painting table, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 171 by 89.5 by h. 86.5 cmLot sold: 10,055,000 HKD (Estimate: 6,000,000 - 8,000,000 HKD)© Sotheby's 2022

the top of a standard mitred, mortise-and-tenoned frame with a four-board floating panel, surmounting a narrow recessed waist and a straight apron decorated with confronting stylised kui dragons rendered in beaded angular scrollwork that continues down the inside edge of the square -section legs terminating in hoof feet, with the scrollwork protruding at the midsection of the legs.

Provenance: RH Ellsworth Ltd, New York, 12th June 1982.
An Siyuan, New York, June 12, 1982.

NoteThis table is exceptional in many respects and no related piece appears to be recorded. Rectangular tables of these broad proportions are unusual and the intriguing carving on the apron of the present piece is extremely rare. The sensitive decoration of two confronting kui dragons of stylised form with sinuous bodies almost completely dissolved into abstract scrollwork lends this table a strikingly elegant presence. Drawing from Chinese traditional iconography, the archaistic kui dragons grant a sense of opulence. The table legs, shaped to an articulated profile and continuing the angular scrollwork, are also not commonly found on contemporary pieces.

Painting tables are distinguished by their generous length and depth, the absence of drawers, as well as their simple decorations beneath the tabletops, creating ample space for free, unimpeded movement for painting, writing or reading. Tables of this type were the most important piece of furniture in the scholar's studio. The renowned Chinese furniture scholar Wang Shixiang discusses the form of these tables in his publication Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1990, vol. 1, p. 68 and notes that “the popular arrangement for all tables was with one end against a window where abundant natural light made writing, painting or reading a more pleasant exercise. In this position, the opposite side could also be used by an assistant to hold the sheet of paper or for some other purpose. It was also common to place these tables in a room, away from walls, with or without chairs.” Such tables are often depicted in contemporary paintings and woodblock-printed books, as in an illustration in Guzhang Juechen  [Fantastic tales of society] published in the Chongzhen period (1628-44), as illustrated in Grace Wu, The Best of the Best. The MQJ Collection of Ming Furniture, vol. 1, Beijing, 2017, p. 134, which depicts a lady sitting on a stool and leaning on a large painting table to read a letter, with a vase and a few other decorative objects placed on the opposite end.

With its beautifully vibrant colour and highly figured grain, huanghuali wood was reserved for high-quality furniture since the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Craftsmen made use of the special features of the timber by creating furniture with smooth, plain surfaces and restrained adornment to celebrate the natural beauty of the distinctive grain. The wood continued to be treasured by the imperial court and the upper classes during the Qing period (1644-1911) and was used extensively to produce sophisticated furniture such as the present piece.

The generous proportions and intricate fringe carvings of this case are extremely rare, and there is no such case in the group of books. Yazi carved deformed dragon, simple and abstract, full of elegant atmosphere, and prosperous at the same time. The legs are decorated with square scroll patterns, and the horseshoe shape is turned inside out like a curly grass, which echoes the Guizilong above, and is not common in the same generation. 

The drawing table is wide, the tooth bars are simple, there are no drawers, and the lower part is more spacious, which is convenient for sitting up and writing, which is a must-have for the literati study. Wang Shixiang refers to this kind of wide and long table, which is usually placed against the window, with bright light, which is good for reading and writing, and it is also convenient for attendants to hold paper and silk on the opposite side; another way of placing it is to center the room, and set up chairs around it, or vacate it (see "Ming Ming Dynasty"). Style Furniture Research, Volume 1, Hong Kong, 1990, p. 68). Similar table cases are often seen in paintings and illustrations of the same period, see Chongzhen (1628-44) publication "Applause Juechen", depicting a lady sitting on a stool leaning against the painted case to read a letter, with vases and furnishings at the end, illustrated in Wu Jiaen, "Wooden House: A Collection of Furniture", vol. 1, Beijing, 2017, p. 134.

Huanghuali has a warm color and a clear and delicate texture. Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), artisans have exploited the unique qualities of wood to create sleek, unadorned furniture that accentuates its natural beauty. After the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), huanghuali was cherished by the court nobles and widely used, and the furniture design became more complex. This example is a good example.

Sotheby's. HOTUNG The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung: Part 1, Hong Kong, 8 October 2022

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