A PAIR OF CHINESE ZITAN LOW-BACK ARMCHAIRS, MEIGUI YI,
QING DYNASTY, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Each with an open-carved back frame formed by a straight top rail rounding the corners to the back posts, set with an inset beaded border apron and spandrels finely carved with archaistic T-scrolls, the straight arms continuing down to form the front posts, also inset with a beaded apron and spandrels with ruyi-cloud silhouettes, the hard cane set within a rectangular frame, surmounted by a lattice rail at the rear and sides, the legs connected by a beaded apron carved with scrolling tendrils, with spandrels running the length to the foot stretcher, the rear and sides with curved aprons and spandrels, the front and side stretchers with narrow plain aprons and short spandrels. The Zitan wood display smooth lustrous dense hardwood with dark purple-brown hues patina and feathery fine grain.

Dimensions: 35-1/2" H x 21-1/2" W x 19" D

LOT NOTES:
MEIGUIYI, or 'rose chairs', are the smallest of the
Stand:ard chair designs in Chinese furniture, making them appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use. The T-scrolls and carved apron on the chairs are similar to a pair attributed to the early Kangxi period, illustrated in Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture: One Hundred and Three Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, Hong Kong, 2005, pl. 17. The present pair, however, is notable for the inclusion of the beaded apron and flanges under the arms. Another pair in the Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, attributed to the 17th century, illustrated in Grace Wu Bruce, Dreams of Chu Tan Chamber and the Romance with HuangHuaLi Wood, Hong Kong 1991, pl. 6, is slightly more simplistic with straight uncarved aprons. A set of four with uncarved arched stretchers and vertical braces, from the Property of Barling of Mount Street, Ltd., was sold in these rooms, 2nd December 1992, lot 606.

Excellent condition, with normal anomalies in nature, natural wood imperfection, sign of stressed surface, minor scratch & dent. Normal consider ages and wears.
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