A FINE AND RARE LARGE IMPERIAL 'ZITAN' LONG TABLE (TIAOAN) QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the long rectangular top with a rounded edge and concave molding above a triangular leaf-tip freize and wide apron with a concave and rounded molding forming a cloud scroll in the center, the legs of rectangular section joined to the top by L-shaped lobed brackets with matching leaf-tip carving, the legs ending in rounded hoof feet, the underside with four transverse braces

Acquired in Beijing in 1911.
A Private American Collection.
Collection of Mr. Robert H. Ellsworth.
Property formerly in the Estate of John Alex McCone.
Sotheby's New York, 26th November 1991, lot 499.

The two is composed of two boards, which are of slightly different, more reddish color and graining. All four corners have been reinforced by soft wood supports. The brackets with minor filled areas on the backs. There are some minor nibbles and scratches throughout. There are some fills to minor losses around the edges. One of the hoof foot has a 1 inch wide corner replacement. The aprons have been reinforced at a later stage with adhesive. In good overall 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.

Masterfully carved from the prized and rare zitan wood, this elegant table is a testament to the high artistic standards set forth during the Qianlong emperor's reign. Zitan, a member of the rosewood family, was a rare commodity during the 18th century due to its small size and slow pace of growth. Hence, a carefully carved item of this generous size supports the attribution of this table as having been 'purchased from Qianlong's private quarters in the Imperial Palace in 1911 by an American collector', for which see the catalogue entry for this lot published in Sotheby's New York, 26th November 1991, lot 499.

Qianlong period zitan tables tend to display either one of two sensibilities. One type adheres to the European Baroque influence on the decorative arts of China in the 18th century. A large scale example of this type can be found on the flourishes of Yuanming Yuan architecture and design. Another example is the sumptuously carved Qianlong period zitan table sold in these rooms, 15th September 2010, lot 352. The present table, however, follows the second sensibility: the Chinese concern for archaism.

Interest in archaism remained a strong feature of Chinese connoisseurship and reached its peak during the Qing dynasty under the Qianlong emperor, who amassed a massive collection of ancient art objects. The aesthetic influence of archaic bronze vessels is apparent upon examination of the minimal carving on the present table, from the rigid plantain lappets to the geometrically coiled motifs flanking the two ends of the table.

Although this table is rare and no other with this design appears to be published, another zitan table featuring plantain 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.