A RARE AND IMPORTANT PAIR OF 'HUANGHUALI' COMPOUND CABINETS AND TWO-DRAWER STANDS (LIUJIAN GUI) 17TH CENTURY

each cabinet of rectangular form, set with a pair of hinged doors composed of floating panels within rectangular frames, fitted with a circular baitong lockplate with pin and rectangular pulls, without a central stile, all above a shaped beaded trim apron deeply carved with scrolling and intertwined lotus, the shorter sides with shaped aprons carved with intertwined tendrils, the interior with a pair of drawers with baitong baluster pulls, the back panels now removed, all set on four short feet of square section, resting upon a stand with a molded edge, fitted with two adjacent huanghuali drawers separated by a central stile, the front of each drawer carved with prunus foliage and buds and centered with a prunus blossom enclosing the chrysanthemum baitong mount and baluster pull handles, the side carved with magnolia blossoms, above a shaped beaded trim apron carved with two qilong confronting intertwined tendrils and ruyi-head at the center, the side aprons carved with tendrils, resting on four short cabriole legs, the hat chest a truncated form of the cabinet with similarly carved apron and baitong fittings, the interior set with a shelf, the four petite square legs set flush atop the cabinet (14)



 

Loss to the lower front apron on one cupboard. There are some minor splits throughout. The backs of the cupboards are missing. One drawer has been raised. Overall very good condition with good patina throughout. Some minor restoration and fills.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This rare pair of exquisite compound cabinets, liujian gui ('six-part wardrobes'), represents the finest in 17th century Chinese cabinetry. The large panels and carved huanghuali details would have been reserved only for the wealthiest and most prominent families. Their rarity is enhanced by the inclusion of the two-drawer stand, an unusual but important feature that sets this pair apart from the more typical two-part compound cabinets. Moreover, very few complete sets of compound cabinets have survived together into modern times, making this set extremely desirable. 

One of the more luxurious elements of this set is the inclusion of carved aprons on all of the pieces. An extremely rare feature, the closest comparable example is the huanghuali compound cabinet with hat chest from the Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection, illustrated in Shing Yiu Yip and Grace Wu Bruce, Chan Chair and Qin Bench: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture II, Hong Kong, 1998, pl. 24. The Yip piece differs, however, in that the carved apron on the hat chest is part of an attached short stand, and the body of the hat chest is slightly smaller than that of the cabinet, whereas the two pieces on the present pair are of the same width and length.

The inclusion of the two-drawer stand is perhaps the pair's most outstanding feature. The carving design on the stand's apron, different than those on the cabinets and hat chests, indicate that it was made to be interchangeable with other pieces of furniture, and thus was not necessarily made to conform exactly to the other components in this set. It is important to note that each piece is fully and aesthetically functional as stand-alone furniture, and that one may also choose to combine only two components, depending on the size of the room or ease of movement and access. However, the three-part design is compelling because without the two-drawer stand and its finely articulated cabriole legs, the cabinet and hat chest -- with their short square section legs and narrow apron -- would appear more stunted and less elegant. The stand, therefore, provides the necessary height and the carved apron helps to maintain a sense of balance.

Another rare three-part cabinet comprising its original sections, made of zitan and attributed to the late 17th / early 18th century, is illustrated in Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, Nicholas Grindley, and Anita Christy, Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, pl. 79.