- 32
Small pillow box, Huanghuali wood Late Ming to early Qing (1600–1700)
Estimate
60,000 - 60,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
The top plank of the box is curved and it is thought that this type of small boxes were also used as travelling pillows.
Exhibited
Hong Kong, 2007, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, “Feast by a wine table reclining on a couch: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture III”
Literature
Grace Wu Bruce, Feast by a wine table reclining on a couch: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture III, Hong Kong, 2007, pp. 166 – 167
Catalogue Note
This classical design was used by craftsmen to fashion small boxes, like the present example, after large storage chest for clothing. This small box is completely plain except for the beaded edges where the lid meets the body of the box. This beading serves as a subtle decoration as well as to improve the durability of the box by enlarging the area of the surface of contact.
The corner application of baitong mounts serves both as decoration and as reinforcement of the joins, making these boxes also suitable for the storage of heavy valuable items like jewellry, cash and silver. It is interesting to note that boxes as small as these were fitted with handles, indicating their association with frequent carriage.
The corner application of baitong mounts serves both as decoration and as reinforcement of the joins, making these boxes also suitable for the storage of heavy valuable items like jewellry, cash and silver. It is interesting to note that boxes as small as these were fitted with handles, indicating their association with frequent carriage.