Lot 3015. A huanghuali scroll chest, late Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Estimate 330,000 — 500,000 HKD. Lot sold 2,240,000 HKD. Photo: Sothebys.

of rectangular section, the cover constructed with two matched board tongue-and-grooved to the four straight sides with two transverse dovetailed stretchers on the interior, a ruyi-shaped baitong mount set flush at each of the four corners with further baitong mounts extending downward along the edges of the cover and box, the body of the chest constructed with a bottom panel tongue-and-grooved to the straight sides and supported by two dovetailed braces underneath, the cover hinged on the reverse of the chest with two inlaid rectangular strap hinges, the front inlaid with a rectangular metal plate with lock receptacles and a lobed ruyi-shaped lift-up hasp, the sides of the box flanked by a pair of 'U'-shaped metal loop handles suspending from lobed plates; 29 by 73 by 51.5 cm, 11 3/8  by 28 3/4  by 20 1/4  in.

Exhibited: Grace Wu Bruce, Ming Furniture, Hong Kong, 1995, p. 67.

Notes: Painting chests are very rare. The extant examples of this design but of a size that are higher are clothes chests and not painting chests.

Compare this piece to the huaxia illustrated in the Sancai Tuhui, the Ming dynasty pictorial encyclopedia. Wang, Siyi, Sancai Tuhui, Pictorial Encyclopedia of Heaven, Earth and Man. Qiyong House objects section, juan 12. Photocopy of the Wanli edition, Shanghai Guji Chubanshe, 1985, p. 1332.

Sotheby's, Ming Furniture – Portable Treasures, Hong Kong, 05 Oct 2016