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37 ? in. (95.3 cm.) high, 23 in. (58.5 cm.) wide, 17 ? in. (45.1 cm.) deep
Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, 1997.
The present set of four chairs displays an unparalleled grace and finesse seen only in the finest furniture dated to the Ming dynasty. This magnificent set is distinguished by several features: the distinctive high curve of the crestrails, the pronounced and elegantly carved ruyi on the gracefully curved backsplat, and the use of the finest quality huanghuali available. The design of the present set of chairs deviates from the standard design of horseshoe-back armchairs. The proportions of the arc of the crestrails are slender and the absence of side posts enhance the dramatic downward sweep of the arms, focus is placed on the elegant movement of the arms. As the design of the arms are distinctive, so is the design under the seat. The use of humpback stretchers and vertical struts, instead of the more commonly seen plain, beaded aprons and spandrels, creates an effect of lengthening the leg and a lightness that belies the size of the chair.To find a true set of four chairs is very rare. Fine chairs were prized for their beauty and their materials, thus complete sets are rarely preserved. It was common for sets of four, or eight chairs, to be divided into singles or pairs. Only a few prominent sets are known, most notably the exquisite set of four horseshoe-back armchairs from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 17 March 2015, lot 41, which realized a record-breaking price of $9,685,000. The unusual design, fine quality of the workmanship, and the luxurious use of huanghuali suggest that this set is a true set of four which were made at the same workshop. Another feature to note on the present set of four are the graceful crestrails carved with subtly curved and shortened hooks. This feature compares closely with a Ming-dynasty example constructed in zhazhenmu from the Weiyang region illustrated in Zhang Jinhua, The Classical Chinese Furniture of Weiyang: Representative Examples, vol, 2, London, 2016, pp. 60-63, suggesting this set may also be from the same region.