A fine pair of 'HuanghualiI' yokeback armchairs (Guangmao Yi). Qing dynasty, Kangxi period

A fine pair of  'HuanghualiI' yokeback armchairs (Guangmao Yi). Qing dynasty, Kangxi period. photo courtesy Sotheby's

of unusually spare form, the slender members undulating in subtle 'S'- shape to form the yoke-shaped crestrail with flattened headrest and truncated terminals echoed by the undulating plain backsplat, backposts, armrails, and goose-necked frontposts, set into a rectangular seat-frame with slightly rounded outer edge above a low squared lip, the rounded backposts continuing through the seat frame to form the legs of square section, set with simple straight aprons and flattened humpbacked stretchers, the hump of the stretchers curving up to tenon directly into the aprons leaving shaped apertures at each corner, the angle of the legs subtly flaring out at all four corners and secured by low foot stretchers (2); 45 1/2 by 22 3/4 by 17 in., 115.5 by 58 by 43 cm. Estimate 60,000—90,000 USD. Lot Sold 482,500 USD

Sotheby's. Fine Ceramics and works of Art. 15 Sept 2010. New York www.sothebys.com