Set of four rectangular stools, Huanghuali wood Late Ming (1573 –1644)

The frame top of standard mitre, mortise, and tenon construction, with exposed tenon on the short sides of the frame. It was drilled for soft-seat construction, now replaced with old matting. There are two curved transverse braces underneath. The edge of the frame is flat and ends with a beaded edge. Recessed waist and the plain straight apron, made of one piece of wood, are mortised and tenoned into the half-lapped on the legs which end in well-drawn hoof feet. Below the apron is a humpback-shaped stretcher, slightly set back and tenoned to the legs.

Hong Kong, 1991, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, "The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture"
Singapore, 1997 – 1999, Asian Civilisations Museum, "The Chinese Collection"
London, 1999, Institute of Contemporary Art, "Grace Wu Bruce presents Ming Furniture from the Collection of Dr. S. Y. Yip"
Hong Kong, 2012, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, "Grace Wu Bruce presents a choice selection of Ming Furniture from the Dr S Y Yip collections"

Grace Wu Bruce, Dreams of Chu Tan Chamber and the Romance with Huanghuali Wood: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1991, pp. 46 – 47
Grace Wu Bruce, Grace Wu Bruce presents a choice selection of Ming Furniture from the Dr. S. Y. Yip collections, Hong Kong, 2012, pp. 18 – 19
Grace Wu Bruce, Ming Furniture Through My Eyes, The Forbidden City Publishing House, Beijing, 2015, p. 157

Similar example:
Chen Zengbi, Zhongyang Gongyi Meishu Xueyuan Yuancang: Zhenpin Tulu, dier ji, Mingshi Jiaju, (Central Academy of Arts and Crafts: Illustrations of collections, volume 2, Ming Furniture), Top-Notch Publication Co., Hong Kong, 1994, no. 5 for a similar piece

Stools are seats without backs. Surviving examples of stools made in the late Ming and early Qing period come in a variety of styles, mostly with great similarity to table designs of the same period. This set of stools with a recessed waist, hump-back shaped stretcher and hoof feet is identical to that of a classic banzhuo table.
The ranking of seats in the Ming period was hierarchical with chairs being deemed more important seats reserved for the master of the house and senior guests. Formal occasions would also call for the usage of chairs while stools were used in more relaxed gatherings.
This classic design is typical of Ming period stools. Stools were made in sets and pairs but easily became separated over time so extant examples of huanghuali stools in a set of four is quite precious.
Standard in design, this set of four stools with excellent proportions, exemplify the undecorated stream of Chinese hardwood furniture at its best. The lines are pure and elegant, the form simple and restrained.