The three-board top set in a rectangular frame, bordered by a 'water stopping' edge above a short waist, the aprons muscularly carved on each side with striding pairs of confronting archaistic chilong wreathed with foliate scroll, all raised on four thick cabriole legs of square section decorated with curling leaves, terminating in 'pearl and leaf' feet raised on pyramidal chucks, the wood with dramatic graining, varying from warm honey to dark brown hues. 11 3/8 x 40 3/4 x 25 5/8in (29 x 103.5 x 65cm)
Provenance: Collection of Vilhelm Meyer (1878-1935)
Thence by descent.
Note: Vilhelm Meyer (偉賀慕·馬易爾) was a prominent Danish merchant. He arrived in Shanghai in 1902 and was appointed counselor by the Danish government in 1909. He was a founder of Andersen, Meyer & Co. (慎昌洋行), a company specializing in importing building materials from Europe and later from the U.S.. After registering his company in New York, Anderson, Meyer & Co. became the sole agent of the General Electric Company in China. Both Meyer and his wife Kristen Bramsen were enraptured by Chinese art and culture, collecting Chinese furniture and other artworks. A massive and finely carved imperial Zitan cabinet from the collection of Vilhelm Meyer was sold at Poly, Beijing, 4 June 2013, lot 7588.
Bonhams. ASIAN WORKS OF ART, 30 Oct 2017, 10:00 EDT - NEW YORK