A large square-corner 'dragon', display cabinet, Liang'ge gui,…
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A large square-corner 'dragon', display cabinet, Liang'ge gui, the upper display shelf framed by shaped aprons pierced with a frieze of archaistic dragons above and a balustrade below carved in relief with dragons among cloud scrolls, above a pair of panelled doors each carved in high relief with three scaly dragons pursuing a flaMing pearl on a dense ground of cloud scrolls above a sea of wave splashed rocks, the doors opening to reveal the shelved interior with two drawers, all above a shaped, beaded apron carved with further dragons among clouds, above rocks and waves on the short splayed feet, 189 cm high, 107 cm wide, 47 cm deep. Literature, A pair of Huanghuali display cabinets of this form with undecorated panelled doors, dated to the 17th/18th century, from the collection of Dr Sam and Annette Mandel, was sold Christie's, Hong Kong, 28 November 2012, lot 2018, a zitan square-corner cabinet and hat chest, dated to the mid Qing period, with similarly carved dragon decoration, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by Tian Jiaqing, Classic Chinese Furniture of the Qing Dynasty 1996, pl. no. 102

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  • Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.

  • Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.
  • Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
  • Huanghuali Wood - Huanghuali is the most sought-after timber used in the construction of Chinese furniture because of its fine colour and grain.

    During Ming and early Qing dynasties, most of the best furniture was made from huanghuali wood.

    It is a member of the rosewood family and over time the surface mellows to a yellowish brown tone with the exposure to light.

    In recent years, furniture made from huanghuali wood has increased exponentially in value.
  • Zitan Wood - Zitan is the most expensive, and since ancient times, has been considered the most precious of woods.

    Zitan wood is the hardest and heaviest of all hardwoods. It is purplish-black to black in colour, and with a grain so dense it is virtually invisible.

    Zitan can usually only be obtained in quite narrow strips and so it is rare to find large pieces of furniture made from this wood. True Chinese rosewood is a variety of zitan and is very rare.

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