A 'zitan' corner-leg table (Tiaozhuo) Qing dynasty, 18th century | 清十八世紀 紫檀雕卷葉紋有束腰條桌
Auction Closed
March 17, 08:20 PM GMT
Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A 'zitan' corner-leg table (Tiaozhuo)
Qing dynasty, 18th century
清十八世紀 紫檀雕卷葉紋有束腰條桌
the rectangular top comprised of five boards of standard miter, mortise and tenon construction set within a molded-edge, beaded frame and supported by four transverse stretchers underneath, the recessed waist pierced with a row of pendent lappets joined to a further band of overlapping lappets by lingzhi-formed struts, the beaded-edge apron with a lively scrolling floral motif terminating in pierced foliate spandrels on the corners of the squared-section legs terminating in foliate-carved scroll-hoof feet, the wood a variegated dark brown
Height 36 ⅝ in., 93 cm; Width 66 ½ in., 168.9 cm; Depth 23 ⅜ in., 59.4 cm
Sotheby's New York, 20th March 2002, lot 320.
來源
紐約蘇富比2002年3月20日，編號320
The latter half of the Qianlong period is generally considered the highpoint of finely carved zitan wood furnishings, often integrating lively foliate motifs, as seen on the present piece, reflecting the assimilation of European rococo design, introduced to the imperial Qing Court by Jesuit missionaries.
The generous size of this elegant table suggests a special commission to be used as a prominent display surface in a grand room. Zitan was a rare commodity in the 18th century due to its small size and slow pace of growth. For a discussion of zitan and its types, see Tian Jai Qing, ‘Zitan and Zitan Furniture’, Orientations, December 1994, pp 43-49.
Given the rarity of the wood, individualization of design is a valued feature of zitan furniture. A related example of a zitan table featuring lappets on the waisted section is in the Qing Court Collection and illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 106, p. 121. A long table featuring archaistic elements on the waisted area and the spandrels is illustrated in Tian Jiaqing, Zitan Yuan (The Essence of Zitan), Beijing, 2007, no. 5, pp 30-33. See also two examples sold in these rooms, a foliate-carved table of similar form sold on 15th September 2010, lot 352 and another with archaistic motifs on 17th September 2013, lot 259.