An 18th Century Chinese Tiger Skin Wood Round-Cornered Tapered Cabinet (Yuanjiaogui)
十八世纪中国虎皮纹木（楠木）带座圆角柜
This is a yuanjiaogui, or a round-cornered cabinet, named for the projecting rounded corners at the top which contain the wooden posts on which the doors are hinged. Such cabinets were traditionally used for the storage of domestic goods in the homes of the rich, and were often found in entrance halls and bedrooms. This example boasts numerous original metal fixtures, including handles on the interior drawers of the cabinet with bails fashioned in the form of a character meaning long life. The cabinet rests on an original stand, which functions to elevate it from the ground while also offering additional storage spaces below. The general form of this type of stand evolved from the low kang table, as is evidenced by the inward-curving legs of the base. The use of a base such as this was common if the cabinet in question was used to store books or other materials that could be damaged by the damp.
As indicated, this cabinet is made from tiger-maple wood, showing a characteristic pattern of stripes in the grain. The sparing ornamentation of this piece allows the lively, unusual texture of the wood to take center stage, while the clean lines of the joinery and the subtle tapering of the verticals ground and balance the cabinet visually. As is common with this type of cabinet, the doors close on either side of a central stile or post, which is fitted with brass fixtures allowing the doors to be locked together with a pin. All told, this cabinet is a wonderful example of the type, and offers a combination of functionality and beauty, as is typical of antique Chinese furniture.
圆角柜取材天然，强调美学的观赏性和线条的高纵感，纹理遵循流畅舒展。其面板花纹追求中国山水画的意境，有的像山水，有的像瀑布。圆角柜实现了结构与美学、功能的完美结合，达到了简约的极致，简单的造型里却隐含着复杂的工序。因此它极具文化底蕴和内涵，受到广大收藏家们的无限青睐。此圆角柜柜高一米八四，是使用者最舒适的高度。柜门攒框镶独板面心，虎皮木纹清晰可见可触，粗狂流畅而俊美。门上镶嵌长方面页，锤打出边框上起线的特征，并配以精美的镂空吊牌。拉开铜把手，柜门里面分为上下两层，中间为带有寿字吊牌的抽屉，方便储存。值得一提的是，圆角柜的里面会上朱红漆，与外面保持色调一致的同时也起到防虫、防蛀的效果。柜底带原装柜座，座体上也配有两个带祥云吊牌的抽屉，提供了充分的储存空间。在我们藏家精心的呵护与保存之下，整个柜体状态完好，实用价值毫无削减。
H1840 L875 D390mm
参阅：2013.11.17 中国嘉德 lot 3913, 成交价：人民币 2,070,000 (NZ$ 455,000)
