明十七世紀 黃花梨圈椅

the rounded crestrail comprising five sections, supported by straight back posts and curved front and side posts, the gently curving central backsplat carved in relief with stylised confronting chilong enclosed within a ruyi-shaped medallion flanked by cusped flanges, the seat frame securing a soft cane matting and set above a beaded cusped apron, joined by foot stretchers of ascending heights, the wood of deep chestnut patina

Horseshoe-back armchairs are derived from chairs of nearly identical shape made of pliable lengths of bamboo, bent into a 'U'-shape and bound together by natural fibers. These chairs were lightweight, sturdy, and strong. Bamboo grew fast and was plentiful. It also was powerfully evocative to urban dwellers in China of a simpler, rural life.

The bamboo horseshoe-back armchair was an appealing design due to its lightweight, sturdy and practical form. Moreover, bamboo has many positive associations in Chinese culture. Over time, this popular design was interpreted in wood. The cabinet maker had to either bend the wood to make the curved crestrail, which was not possible with dense tropical hardwoods, or construct it of lighter, less durable woods that did bend. Desiring to use beautiful tropical hardwoods, cabinet makers found a solution in an ingenious joinery technique that applied an equal amount of pressure to two sides of two interlocking slightly curved elements. The two pieces fit together with a cut-out to accommodate a tapered wood pin that when inserted put pressure on the two pieces, locking them firmly in place.

A series of these joins connected together, each forming a section of the overall curve of the U-shaped crestrail, created a single, strong unit. When lacquered, the underlying joinery was not visible and virtually impossible to wrest apart. For chairs made of huanghuali, zitan, or other hardwoods, the beauty of the wood grain enhanced the appeal, and the sections were reinforced by hot animal glues.

For similar horseshoe-back chairs, compare two pairs sold in our New York rooms, 25th April 1987, lot 564 and 1st June 1994, lot 607; and a third pair, sold at Christie's New York, 21st September 2000, lot 20.