.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Constructed from the precious hardwood, zitan, the present pair represent an extremely luxurious use of a rare wood that was highly valued during the Qing dynasty. Zitan is a general term which includes numerous species of wood, however, it is commonly agreed that it belongs to the genus Pterocarpus. A purplish-black, fine-grained hardwood, zitan was considered the most prized hardwood by the Chinese. The density of the wood makes this material especially suitable for fine and intricate carving. The wood's scarcity was compounded by the fact that the trees themselves are slow growing and require centuries to fully mature into usable material. Although local sources of zitan exist in the southern provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi, much of the material was imported from Southeast Asia. As an imported commodity, its use was scrupulously monitored and carefully restricted at the Imperial workshops.
Richly and meticulously carved with dynamic five-clawed dragons against a dense landscape of swirling clouds, our beautiful pair of small cabinets reflect the incredible skills of the Qing imperial carvers. Such cabinets would probably have been intended for the private apartments of the imperial family. A similar cabinet, also combining carved zitan and gold-painted black lacquer is preserved in the Beijing Palace Museum, where it was used as a dressing chest and had a mirror stand placed on top of it (see Life in the Forbidden City of the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2007, p. 133, pl. 199.) The interior layout of the current cabinets resembles a miniaturised version of the large display shelves seen in the Beijing Palace apartments, like those illustrated in Life in the Forbidden City of the Qing Dynasty, op. cit., p. 118, pl. 182. This would have allowed the cabinet either to be used as a dressing chest, or to display small personal treasures.
Compare to a pair of smaller zitan and lacquer cabinets (36.5 cm high), dated 18th century, sold in christie's London, 9 November 2010, lot 198. See another similar zitan cabinet elaborately carved with dragons and clouds and raised on a tapered base, sold at Christie's Paris, 10 December 2014, lot 190.
Richly and meticulously carved with dynamic five-clawed dragons against a dense landscape of swirling clouds, our beautiful pair of small cabinets reflect the incredible skills of the Qing imperial carvers. Such cabinets would probably have been intended for the private apartments of the imperial family. A similar cabinet, also combining carved zitan and gold-painted black lacquer is preserved in the Beijing Palace Museum, where it was used as a dressing chest and had a mirror stand placed on top of it (see Life in the Forbidden City of the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2007, p. 133, pl. 199.) The interior layout of the current cabinets resembles a miniaturised version of the large display shelves seen in the Beijing Palace apartments, like those illustrated in Life in the Forbidden City of the Qing Dynasty, op. cit., p. 118, pl. 182. This would have allowed the cabinet either to be used as a dressing chest, or to display small personal treasures.
Compare to a pair of smaller zitan and lacquer cabinets (36.5 cm high), dated 18th century, sold in christie's London, 9 November 2010, lot 198. See another similar zitan cabinet elaborately carved with dragons and clouds and raised on a tapered base, sold at Christie's Paris, 10 December 2014, lot 190.