Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

This chair is probably 19th century Beijing. I think it is blackwood (heimu) but, want to ask for second opinions.

The chair set consists of three parts. The upper part is what I want to identify. It is

The lower stand, though bought with the chair may be a later addition. I am not sure.

There is a foot rest (not shown) that was probably added later.

DIMENSIONS
Upper section : Width ~900 cm / Height ~880 cm / Depth ~ 400 cm
Lower section : Width ~880 cm / Height ~270 cm / Depth ~ 500 cm

More photos of joinery.

The bottom photo shows the foot rest.

The foot rest may not be original. Seems newer and the wood is not the same color.

Nice looking piece. So hard to tell the wood when you use flash. How about you take some pics in the sunlight of the seat....nice big flat surface should tell a lot about the wood.

Here we go... I used the coin to focus. The sun barely hits this area but, I used no flash.

I thought parts might be huanghuali but, that hope dwindled as I stare at it.

Hongmu, but don't be disappointed. It is a lovely throne and the use of hongmu does not diminish this.

Hongmu was used in furniture in the Imperial Palace, and there are many examples that have performed at major auction houses with tremendous results.

In my opinion, the focus of my Chinese clients to overlook furniture made from anything other HH is a reflection of their inexperience and lack of appreciation for the mastery of Chinese furniture making.

Similarly, many of my clients would turn up their noses to a fantastic piece of porcelain because it lacks an Imperial mark, yet there are hundreds (if not thousands) of examples of such pieces that earn the respect of serious collectors and their subsequently high auction results affirms my position.

Regards,
Tim

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |