十七世紀 黃花梨四出頭官帽椅一對17TH CENTURY十七世紀 黃花梨四出頭官帽椅一對47 in. (119.5 cm.) high, 24 13/16 in. (63 cm.) wide, 21 7/16 in. (54.5 cm.) deepThe name guanmaoyi or ‘official’s hat-shaped chair is derived from its resemblance to the winged hat that was part of the formal attire of the Ming officials. They were regarded as high chairs and retained a connotation of status and authority associated with the elite gentry in Chinese society. The classical text Lu Ban jing [Manuscript of Lu Ban], a 15thcentury carpenter’s manual, gives specifications for these chairs and describes the joinery as the embodiment and fine example of Chinese furniture. The present chairs are distinguished by their elaborate and refined carving, particularly in the most unusual, pierced medallion in the splat. Invariably pairs, or sets, of chairs have uniform decoration, identical, within the given parameters of hand carving, from chair to chair. These chairs, and another two appear to come from the same set, the pair from the Gangolf Geis collection sold at Christie’s New York, 18 September 2003, lot 38. The Geis chairs have different animals carved to the back rest, a lion on one, and a spotted deer on the other. It has been suggested by Curtis Evarts in his foreword in the Christie’s catalogue for the Gangolf Geis Collection auction in 2003 that this decoration might relate to rank badges or some sort of hierarchical seating arrangement amongst family or guests. It is also most unusual to find such elaborate carved decoration to the aprons beneath the seat and beneath the foot stretcher and side and back stretchers. These elaborately carved chairs were crafted by an exceptional master carpenter.Details A PAIR OF IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE HUANGHUALI YOKE-BACK ARMCHAIRS, SICHUTOUGUANMAOYI17TH CENTURYThe yoke-back armchairs are constructed of fine huanghuali, each ‘official’s hat’ toprail with strongly swept-back ends supported on round corner posts which continue through to the back legs. The well matched backsplats are flanked at the sides by openwork ruyi-scroll flanges, pierced and exquisitely carved in deep and layered technique from both sides with a ruyi-shaped cartouche enclosing auspicious emblems surrounding a qilin on one and two mythical animals on the other. The out-scrolled arms supported on sinuous tapering stiles and curved front posts with beaded cloud spandrels continue through the rectangular frame of the soft mat seat to form the front legs, which joined in front by beaded scrolling aprons and long flange spandrelscarved with dragons, lotus buds, ruyi and clouds, with similarly carved aprons and spandrels on all four sides, and with a shaped footrest and stepped stretchers, each with a curvilinear apron carved with dragon heads or leafy tendrils .47 in. (119.5 cm.) high, 24 13/16 in. (63 cm.) wide, 21 7/16 in. (54.5 cm.) deep Provenance Eastern Pacific Co. (Hei Hung Lu), Hong KongGiesle Croes, Brussels, 1986/87Robert Hatifield Ellsworth, Hong Kong, 1989 Literature B. Flynn, ‘Chinese Furniture in Two Columbian Exhibitions : 1893 and 1992’, Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society, Spring 1993, pp.48-51, fig.4C. Evarts, ‘Best of the Best’ An Exhibition of Ming Furniture form Private Collections, Arts of Asia, May-June 1995, pp. 135-141, no. 5Chinese Jades from the Cissy and Robert Tang Collection, Hong Kong, 2015, p. 12, fig.3 Exhibited Circa 1492: Art in the Age of Exploration, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., 1991, cat.pp.485-486, no.345Best of the Best: An Exhibition of Ming Furniture from Private Collections, Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, 1994The Radiant Ming, 1368-1644 through the Min Chiu Society Collection, Hong Kong, 2015, cat.pp. 292-293, no. 224 Special notice Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory, tortoiseshell and crocodile. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. Post lot text Please note these lots incorporate material from endangered species which could result in export restrictions. You should check the relevant customs laws and regulations before bidding on this lot if you plan to import the lot into another country. Please refer to Christie’s Conditions of Sale. Sale room notice Please note the provenance of this lot is:Eastern Pacific Co. (Hei Hung Lu), Hong KongGiesle Croes, Brussels, 1986/87Robert Hatifield Ellsworth, Hong Kong, 1989請注意本拍品的來源為：東泰公司（黑洪祿），香港Giesle Croes，布鲁塞尔，1986/87年安思遠舊藏，香港，1989年 Conditions of sale