A rare huanghuali compound cabinet and hatchest, sijiangui, China, Late Ming-Early Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century. Estimate $300,000 – $500,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

Of rectangular form, the hatchest with panel doors fitted flush and opening to reveal a shelved interior above the cabinet with similar configuration, the cabinet doors opening to reveal the shelved interior with two drawers, all above shaped beaded aprons carved with interlocked leafy scroll on the narrow sides and elaborate lotus scroll on the front - 89 ¼ in. (226.7 cm.) high, 49 ½ (125.7 cm.) wide, 24 in. (60.9 cm.) deep

Provenance: The Collection of Robert H. Ellsworth, New York, circa 1990.

Notes: Compound cabinets combine a large square-corner cabinet with a small upper cabinet. Fitted with shelves and often times with drawers, their generous size made them ideal for storing long scrolls, fabrics, garments and books. The upper cabinets, accessible only via use of a short ladder, would have contained out-of-season clothing or infrequently used items. Although the upper cabinets are of separate construction, their unfinished undersides suggest that they were an integral part of the design and were never meant to serve as independent pieces of furniture.

The relatively small size and the fact that the sides, top, and back are made from huanghuali rather than camphor, may indicate the present cabinet was not intended to store clothing, but perhaps was intended for a scholar's studio, where it would hold items such as scrolls, paintings, and books. In addition, the luxurious use of precious huanghualiindicates the wealth and status of the owner.

Christie's. THE COLLECTION OF ROBERT HATFIELD ELLSWORTH PART I - MASTERWORKS INCLUDING INDIAN, HIMALAYAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN WORKS OF ART, CHINESE AND JAPANESE WORKS OF ART, 17 March 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza