A Fine Pair Of 'Huanghuali' Yokeback Armchairs (Guanmao Yi), 17th Century.  photo Sotheby's

each finely carved of spare form, the undulating bow-shaped toprail with flattened headrest and rounded terminals, supported on a bowed splat and tapered stiles, extending to S-shaped armrails held by the curved front posts with lobed brackets and mid-section support, the front and back posts continue through the rectangular cane seat to form the legs of square section, set with simple beaded aprons in the front and plain aprons on the side, the legs held by box-stretchers with a flattened foot rest with simple apron attached to the front, rounded square stretchers with aprons on the sides and a plain square stretcher along the back (2); 25 1/4 x 46 1/4 x 25 3/4 in., 64.1 x 117.5 x 65.4 cm. Estimate 200,000—300,000 USD. Lot Sold 2,770,500 USD to an Asian Buyer

PROVENANCE: Peter Lai Antiques Ltd., Hong Kong.

NOTE: The present pair of yokeback armchairs is exceptional for the large size and the understated elegance of the softly curving stretchers. Such armchairs were among the most prestigious chairs in a traditional household and belong to the type known as guanmao yi ('official's hat chair'), referring to the resemblance of the crestrail to the extended wings characteristic of headdresses worn by oficials.

For a discussion of yokeback armchairs, see Curtis Evarts, 'From Ornate to Unadorned', Journal of the Chinese Classical Furniture Society, Spring 1993, pp. 24-33.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 23 Mar 11. New York www.sothebys.com