A PAIR OF 'HUANGHUALI' YOKEBACK ARMCHAIRS (NANGUANMAO YI) 17TH CENTURY

each with an arched crestrail above a wide-bowed splat, flanked by curved stiles set with short interior flanges, the S-shaped arms with vertical supports, continuing to S-shaped front supports set with interior brackets, the legs of circular section with straight beaded aprons and long flanged brackets, above a box stretcher, with a removable hard cane seat (2)

Acquired from the Drummond Brothers, 1951.

One arm with repaired split at handgrip. The seats converted from softcane and are 20th Century. Overall good condition.
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.

According to Sarah Handler in Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture, Hong Kong, 2001, p. 43, 'the Chinese yokeback chair is the stately seat of Buddhists, deities, royalty, and important people.' This pair of chairs, nanguanmao yi ('Southern Official's Hat Chair'), is part of a pantheon of yokeback chairs that remains one of the more popular forms of seating in Chinese furniture. There are many variations on yokeback chairs, and the present pair is no exception. An interesting feature -- the interior flanges below the crestrail -- is unusual in that such flanges typically are arranged on the exterior. However, this can be compared to a jichimu chair attributed to the 17th century, also set with interior flanges, illustrated in Wang Shixiang and Curtis Evarts, Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 24.