Pair of Imperial Gilt-Lacquered Zitan-Veneered Display Cabinets to be Sold at Bonhams
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A magnificent pair of Imperial gilt-lacquered zitan-veneered ‘Farming and Weaving’ display cabinets will be offered at Bonhams’ upcoming auction, “Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art,” which will take place on May 28, 2019, in Hong Kong. The presPair of Imperial Gilt-Lacquered Zitan-Veneered Display Cabinets to be Sold at Bonhams
A magnificent pair of Imperial gilt-lacquered zitan-veneered ‘Farming and Weaving’ display cabinets will be offered at Bonhams’ upcoming auction, “Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art,” which will take place on May 28, 2019, in Hong Kong. The present cabinets will be featured in lot 148 at the auction. “Display cabinets such as the present lot, known in Chinese literally as ‘multiple treasure cabinets’ (Duobao ge), or ‘extensive antiques cabinet’ (Bogu jia) are one of the most representative types of cabinets in the Qing dynasty that could serve the function of displaying antiques, storing books, scrolls or treasures; hence the name ‘extensive antiques cabinet.’ This was a high-end piece of furniture that was popular among the elites such as the literati, court nobles and the emperor himself. In terms of their form, Duobao ge display cabinets developed from the Liang’ge gui cabinets (sometimes commonly known as ‘Wanli cabinets’) of the Ming dynasty. The basic form is that the lower sections have a pair of opening cabinet doors, the middle sections are set with drawers and the upper parts are composed of horizontal and vertical posts forming shelves of various sizes and shapes. Some are decorated with inlaid ivory or stones. Because these cabinets can be either large or small as well as convenient for storage and display, they were often used as partitions in rooms. Duobao ge cabinets had existed by the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty, most typically with a little bit of gold lacquer decoration, but the form and design were still relatively simple and plain overall,” states the auction house. As mentioned by Bonhams, each cabinet with the top section is divided into open compartments of various form, size and height, framed by friezes carved with ruyi-shaped cloud scrolls in openwork and joined by a vertical pillar in the form of a writhing scaly dragon. All above a pair of double-door cabinets is intricately carved in relief on each door with a ferocious dragon in pursuit of a flaming pearl amid undulating cloud scrolls and it is surmounted surmounted by a pair of single drawers and three compartments similarly decorated. The sides, back and interior is lacquered black and gilt-decorated with figural scenes in a landscape, cloisonne enamel hinges and lock plates, standing on four straight feet. These cabinets are currently part of an important Asian private collection. https://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin Read more