A HUANGHUALI RECTANGULAR CORNER-LEG LOW TABLE, AIZHUO 17th/18th century
THE PROPERTY OF A LADY 女士藏品
A HUANGHUALI RECTANGULAR CORNER-LEG LOW TABLE, AIZHUO
17th/18th century
The rectangular panelled top set within a wide border above a recessed waist and a plain apron, supported on four legs of square section terminating in hoof-feet and joined with four humpback stretchers. 93.5cm (36 3/4in) wide x 51.5cm (20in) high x 46.5cm (18 1/4in) deep.
The Property of a Lady
十七/十八世紀 黃花梨有束腰羅鍋棖馬蹄足矮桌
Provenance: Klas E Böök (1909-1980), Sweden, acquired during his service as Swedish Ambassador to Beijing, 1956-1961, and thence by descent
来源： Klas E Böök (1909-1980)，瑞典，在擔任瑞典駐北京大使期間獲得，1956-1961，並由後人保存迄今。
A Swedish diplomat and civil servant, Mr Böök first had a career in banking, that led up to the position of Governor of the Swedish National Bank from 1948 to 1951. His diplomatic career began when he was appointed head of the Commercial Department of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and envoy from 1947 to 1948. He was Minister in Ottawa from 1951 to 1956, Ambassador in Beijing from 1956 to 1961, and also accredited as envoy to Bangkok from 1956 to 1959. Böök was the Swedish Ambassador to New Delhi, India, and also accredited to Colombo and Kathmandu from 1961 to 1965 and in Bern from 1965 to 1972. He had special assignments for the Swedish Foreign Ministry from 1972 to 1975.
This simple, elegant form is one of the most frequently employed in Chinese furniture construction. Whilst the spare strong lines conveyed the rigor and discipline required of the scholar, the rich graining and warm color of the dense resinous hardwood add a sumptuous touch, alluding to the luxuries available to the elite of the time.
Tables such as the present one would most likely have been used as side tables in a scholar's studio to support art objects, such as incense burners, table screens and other antiques. Ser, for example, a side table featured in 'Self Portrait of Wang Xizhi', of the Song dynasty (960-1279), depicting the scholar seated at the centre of the composition in his studio flanked by a small rectangular side table laid with boxes and other objects, illustrated in Classical Chinese Furniture from the Haven Collection, Hong Kong, 2016, p.206.
Compare with a related huali table, late Ming dynasty, illustrated by C. Clunas, Chinese Furniture, London, 1988, p.88, no.33, and another huanghuali table, 16th-17th century, illustrated by G.W. Bruce, Living with Ming - the Lu Ming Shi Collection, 2000, p. 110, no. 23.
Compare with a related huanghuali corner-leg table, 17th century, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2022, lot 2906.
Bid on this lot
THE PROPERTY OF A LADY 女士藏品
A HUANGHUALI RECTANGULAR CORNER-LEG LOW TABLE, AIZHUO
17th/18th century
The rectangular panelled top set within a wide border above a recessed waist and a plain apron, supported on four legs of square section terminating in hoof-feet and joined with four humpback stretchers. 93.5cm (36 3/4in) wide x 51.5cm (20in) high x 46.5cm (18 1/4in) deep.
The Property of a Lady
十七/十八世紀 黃花梨有束腰羅鍋棖馬蹄足矮桌
Provenance: Klas E Böök (1909-1980), Sweden, acquired during his service as Swedish Ambassador to Beijing, 1956-1961, and thence by descent
来源： Klas E Böök (1909-1980)，瑞典，在擔任瑞典駐北京大使期間獲得，1956-1961，並由後人保存迄今。
A Swedish diplomat and civil servant, Mr Böök first had a career in banking, that led up to the position of Governor of the Swedish National Bank from 1948 to 1951. His diplomatic career began when he was appointed head of the Commercial Department of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and envoy from 1947 to 1948. He was Minister in Ottawa from 1951 to 1956, Ambassador in Beijing from 1956 to 1961, and also accredited as envoy to Bangkok from 1956 to 1959. Böök was the Swedish Ambassador to New Delhi, India, and also accredited to Colombo and Kathmandu from 1961 to 1965 and in Bern from 1965 to 1972. He had special assignments for the Swedish Foreign Ministry from 1972 to 1975.
This simple, elegant form is one of the most frequently employed in Chinese furniture construction. Whilst the spare strong lines conveyed the rigor and discipline required of the scholar, the rich graining and warm color of the dense resinous hardwood add a sumptuous touch, alluding to the luxuries available to the elite of the time.
Tables such as the present one would most likely have been used as side tables in a scholar's studio to support art objects, such as incense burners, table screens and other antiques. Ser, for example, a side table featured in 'Self Portrait of Wang Xizhi', of the Song dynasty (960-1279), depicting the scholar seated at the centre of the composition in his studio flanked by a small rectangular side table laid with boxes and other objects, illustrated in Classical Chinese Furniture from the Haven Collection, Hong Kong, 2016, p.206.
Compare with a related huali table, late Ming dynasty, illustrated by C. Clunas, Chinese Furniture, London, 1988, p.88, no.33, and another huanghuali table, 16th-17th century, illustrated by G.W. Bruce, Living with Ming - the Lu Ming Shi Collection, 2000, p. 110, no. 23.
Compare with a related huanghuali corner-leg table, 17th century, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2022, lot 2906.
