Rare Huanghuali Horseshoe Back Armchair Leads Upcoming Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Snuff Bottles Auction

Bonhams is offering a rare 16th/17th-century Huanghuali horseshoe back armchair in its upcoming Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art, and Snuff Bottles auction. Huanghuali or fragrant rosewood chairs were among the most famous pieces of furniture from the Ming Dynasty. This horseshoe-back chair was a singular chair for the head of the household or authoritative officials, often positioned in front of a large painting screen, a setup depicted in both Ming dynasty paintings and woodblock illustrations. The most striking feature of the chair is the rectangular central cartouche on the back splat, which depicts the pictorial subject of Pinghua Qinggong (flower offering). Black splats with such representational renderings are extremely rare. The gracefully curved crest rail has five sections joined by pressure-pegged scarf joints terminating in out-swept hooks with a low-relief chi dragon. The chi dragons on this chair closely resemble the style of carving found on a dressing table cabinet from the late Ming-early Qing period. 

A very rare brown-splashed Qingbai ‘Sheng Player’ ewer from the Northern Song Dynasty is also available in the auction. Figural water vessels are extremely rare, and the present example— with its fine details and well-executed iron-spot glaze— is one of the best in its category. The domed vessel is lively modeled and carved as a musician wearing a floral crown and a flowing blouse with floral roundels over a long-pleated skirt. Her hands hold a wind instrument sheng, which serves as the spout opposite the handle. The facial features are depicted with large ‘phoenix’ eyes, her mouth blowing into the tube connecting to the sheng. A blue-tinted glaze covers the piece inside and out. View the full Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art, and Snuff Bottles auction catalog on Bonhams’ website, and find other auction previews by visiting Auction Daily.