A RARE HUANGHUALI MEDICINE CHEST WITH DRAWERS, YAOXIANG
Late Ming DynastyOf rectangular form, constructed with a removable panel door at the front fitted with a baitong circular lock plate and side lock, above a reticulated baitong door pull suspended from a chrysanthemum-shaped plate, all within baitong ruyi plates, the sides set with a pair of rectangular handles suspended from rhombus-shaped plates above a metal fitting with an opening to allow threading through a string for carriage, the edges reinforced with baitong strips, the interior with six drawers, each fitted with a pair of metal pulls. 36cm (14 1/8in) high x 42cm (16 1/2in) wide x 26cm (10 2/8in) deep.
注脚
明晚期 黃花梨插門式六屜箱Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2016, lot 3008An important European private collection來源:香港蘇富比,2016年10月5日,拍品編號3008歐洲重要私人收藏Constructed from highly-figured huanghuali wood, the present lot is a rare example of a medicine chest, yaoxiang. The term refers to small boxes with no opening at the top. While such boxes may have been intended to store precious herbs, medicines and medical instruments, they were equally suitable as tabletop chests for storing small items, from documents to writing materials. The present example features a front panel that can be removed to permit access to the six drawers. The door is held in place by tongue-and-grove at the bottom and a brass lock above. According to 'Random Notes on Times of Leisure' Xian qing ou ji by Li Yu (1610-1680) (a Ming dynasty intellectual and playwright), multi-drawer cabinets were designed for scholars after the design of a pharmacist's 'hundred-eye cabinet'.For a discussion about the use of these chests see G.Wu Bruce, 'Small Portable Treasures', Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society, Autumn 1993, pp.60-62. Compare with a related huanghuali medicine cabinet, 17th century, illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 1990, vol.2, pl.E21.箱插門式,正面可裝卸的面板攢邊框鑲兩拼面心,正中上方鑲白銅圓形面葉及鎖頭,下以菊花護眼錢掛鉤吊牌,四角包如意形白銅片。兩側面各安長方形白銅環與三枚菱形護眼錢,下方有白銅構件,可供布帶或繩子穿過方便搬運。立牆包鑲白銅片加固。櫃內設平列的六具抽屜,臉上皆飾一對菊花瓣護眼和瓶形吊牌。形如本例的插門式小箱傳世甚少,或因插門是較早期的做法,後逐漸被兩開門取代。本例形似鏡箱但無頂蓋,無處可支架銅鏡,故歸入藥箱一類。通身光素,用材考究,尤為適合置於書齋閨閣,存放筆墨文書乃至首飾珍玩。明末清初文士李漁著《閒情偶寄》,論及抽屜之功用,稱多多益善,「以便分門別類,隨所有而藏之,譬如生藥舖中有所謂『百眼櫥』者」,即如此例。有關此類小箱之用途,可參考伍嘉恩著,〈Small Portable Treasures〉,收錄於《Journal of the Classical Chinese Furniture Society》1993年秋季刊,加州,頁60-62。另比較一件十七世紀黃花梨藥箱,王世襄著,《明式家具研究》,卷二,香港,1990年,圖版E21。
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.
Bonhams continues to hold viewings and sales in accordance with government guidelines. In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, in-person bidding for this sale will be by reservation only and we recommend registering in advance to confirm your reserved place. To book your place for viewing or bidding in the saleroom, please email suzi.yang@bonhams. You can register on the Bonhams app, online or arrange to bid by telephone or place an absentee bid. For up to date information on the sale and how to register, please contact our Client Services at info@bonhams.com or on 020 7447 7447.
买家佣金及收费 For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates 27.5% on the first ?10,000 of the hammer price; 25% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of ?10,000 up to and including ?450,000; 20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of ?450,000 up to and including ?4,500,000; and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of ?4,500,000.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
买家责任 ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.
付款须知 For payment information please refer to the sale catalogue.
运输须知 For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.