A Pair of 'Huanghuali' 'Official's Hat' Armchairs (Sichutouguanmaoyi). Ming Dynasty

Each with bow-shaped crestrail with protruding ears over a serpentine splat and stiles, the serpentine arms on serpentine supports terminating in curved rounded handrests above flanges with beaded scrolled edges, the stiles and front supports of circular section, continuing through the rectangular seat with molded edge and hard cane seat to the slightly splayed legs with slightly arched apron brackets with beaded edge to the front and sides, box stretcher, the wood of golden brown, with pale green and pink Chinese velvet cushions (4) - 46 1/4 by 20 1/2 by 24 1/2 in., 117.5 by 52 by 62.4 cm - 80,000—100,000 USD - Adjugé: 74,500 USD

PROVENANCE: Property of a Lady, Chicago (until 1982).
Christie's New York, 23rd June 1982, lot 491.
Thereafter with the present owners.

NOTE: Armchairs of this type, with their ample proportions and dignified bearing, would have been reserved for the eldest or most important member of a household, or an especially honored guest. A similar armchair, with more elaborate apron, but less sculptural ears and handrests, from the Collection of John W. Gruber, is illustrated in Sarah Handler, Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture, Hong Kong, 2001, no. 4.14, p. 54. Compare a pair of armchairs with shorter bracketed aprons illustrated in Robert D. Jacobsen with Nicholas Grindley, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, no. 8, pp. 50-51. Compare also the two armchairs with similar apron, but modified arm supports, illustrated in Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture, Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, New York, 1970, nos. 2, 4, pp. 109, 111.

Compare also a pair sold at Christie's New York, 1st December 1983, lot 863; a pair sold in these rooms, 28th September 1989, lot 324; and a pair with less rounded handrests, sold in these rooms, 22nd March 2001, lot 144.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com