A PAIR OF 'HUANGHUALI' AND 'HONGMU' SQUARE-CORNER COMPOUND CABINETS, SIJIANGUI QING DYNASTY, 18TH/19TH CENTURY |

each huanghuali-veneered cabinet of rectangular form, comprising a smaller top chest resting on a larger bottom one, the top cabinet of mitre, mortise, tenon, tongue-and-grooved flush floating-panel construction with four square uprights, the bottom cabinet similarly constructed with rectangular floating panels set within a narrow frame, the side panels on both the top and bottom cabinets of the same mitre, mortise, tenon, tongue-and-grooved, flush, floating-panel construction, all above plain spandrel aprons, the doors with baitong circular hinges, the central circular plates with three openings for the lock receptacles and shaped door pulls

Two legs of one cabinet particularly worn. The other with an area of repair (approx. 16 x 3cm) to one side. There are some repairs around the corners and along the edges to both. The lower panels to both cabinets have been repaired and replaced and there are various repairs to the veneer to areas of the front of each cabinet. The upright sides of the hat boxes are hardwood and not huanghuali and the door panels are solid huanghuali. There is some replacement to the aprons and all the metalwork is replaced.
"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."

Known as sijiangui (four-part wardrobes), or dingxiangligui (top cupboards and upright wardrobes), massive two-part cabinets of this type were generally made and displayed in pairs. Composed of two cabinets stacked on top of each other, the spacious lower cabinet was used to hold robes and large items, while smaller items, or objects that were not often needed, were reserved for the top, which being so high up often necessitated the use of a ladder. For a further discussion of the history and construction of this type of cabinet, see Sarah Handler,  ‘Proportion and Joinery in Four-Part Wardrobes’, Orientations, January 1991, vol. 22, no. 1, pp 52-57. Related cabinets include a pair published in Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, Chinese Furniture. Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Ch’ing Dynasties, New York, 1970, pl. 132; another pair, from the collection of Mme Henri Vetch, illustrated in Gustav Ecke, Chinese Domestic Furniture, Rutland, 1962, no. 101, pl. 125; and a larger pair, from the Reverend Richard Fabian collection, sold in our New York rooms, 15^th March 2016, lot 42.