A SMALL HUANGHUALI AND GREEN STONE RECESSED-LEG TABLE WITH A SHELF, PINGTOUAN LATE MING DYNASTY

the top of standard mitre, mortise and tenon construction with a green stone top supported by two transverse stretchers underneath, the edge of the mitred frame gently moulded and ending in a beaded edge, all supported on splayed round legs cut to house the shaped spandrelled apron, the legs double-tennoned into the top, and interrupted by a shelf, tongue-and-grooved into the mitre, mortise and tenon frame

Grace Wu Bruce, Dreams of Chu Tan Chamber and the Romance with Huanghuali Wood: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1991, cat. no. 17, pp. 56-57.
The Chinese Collections, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 1997-99.
Grace Wu Bruce presents Ming Furniture from the Collection of Dr. S. Y. Yip, Institute of Contemporary Art, London, 1999.
Grace Wu Bruce, Grace Wu Bruce presents a choice selection of Ming Furniture from the Dr. S. Y. Yip collections, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 2012, pp. 24-25.

Overall good condition, with just minor general surface wear and insignificant bruises to the fragile extremities, especially to the tips of the feet, as expected of Ming furniture preserved over the centuries in a domestic setting.
"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."

"Addition of a shelf gives the table a different presence. Green clouds on the table top gives it a distinct complexion."

Various stones, especially dalishi marble were favoured as table tops in Song times, as evidenced by their frequent depiction in scholarly gatherings in Song paintings, e.g. The Eighteen Scholars in the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Surviving examples of Ming furniture with stone panels are rare. However, the side tables with inset stone panels excavated from the tomb of Prince Zhu Tan (1370-1389) in Shandong wood seem to indicate that stone panels as table tops were popular in Ming furniture manufacture. This type of table is a standard Ming design that has evolved from the classic pingtouan table.

For similar examples with a huanghuali top, see Wang Shixiang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, Chicago and San Francisco, 1995, pp. 96-97 and Grace Wu Bruce, Ming Furniture in the Forbidden City, Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, 2006, pp. 86-87.