A HUANGHUALI MASSAGE STOOL AND FOOTREST LATE MING DYNASTY

the top of standard mitre, mortise and tenon frame construction, a wide transverse stretcher set flush, T-mitred, mortised and tennoned to the frame dividing the space inside the mitred frame into two parts, the larger part inset with a flush, tongue-and-grooved, single board floating panel and the smaller part with two rollers hinged on extended dowels fitting into sockets on the inside edge of the mitred frame, the outside edge of the frame moulding downward and inward and ending in a narrow flat band, the aprons, straight and plain on three sides and curvilinear shaped on the side of the rollers half-lapped, mortised and tennoned to the legs ending in well-shaped hoof feet, the corners of the top of the massage stool and footrest inlaid with baitong mounts

Ming Furniture, Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, 1995.
The Chinese Collections, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 1997-99.
Grace Wu Bruce, Chan Chair and Qin Bench: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture II, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1998, cat. no. 13, pp. 84-85.
The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Macao Museum of Art, Macau, 2003.

Grace Wu Bruce, Two Decades of Ming Furniture, Beijing, 2010, p 176. 
Grace Wu Bruce, Ming Furniture Through My Eyes, Beijing, 2015, p. 180.

General surface wear and insignificant bruises to the exteriors, otherwise 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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"A combined footrest and massage stool, both rarities in one. It is a piece to die for."

Footrests and massage stools are usually separate pieces of furniture. Compare the footrests and the massage stool illustrated in the 15th century carpenter's manual Lu Ban jingjiang jiajing [Lu Ban's Classic, A Mirror for Craftsmen]. This unusual piece, which combines the functions of a footrest and a massage stool, is almost unique among published examples. 

For the only other extant huanghuali massage stool and footrest known, see Splendor of Style: Classical Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, National Museum of History, Taipei, 1999, p. 199.