A rare red lacquer table. Ming Dynasty

A rare red lacquer table. Ming Dynasty

the rectangular top framed by four metal braces on the corners, above a plain beaded apron, all supported on its original shoe feet and T-lattice crossbraces with a horizontal strut separating a single vertical strut above two struts below set between paired legs, the feet tipped with metal fittings, covered overall in a thick nacarat orange lacquer. 44.5 by 140.3 by 64.5 cm 17 1/2 by 55 1/4 by 25 3/8 in. Estimate 800,000—1,200,000 HKD

NOTE: Designed as an entirely lacquered recessed-leg table, the four corners of the table top are bound in copper braces, which is an unusual feature. Sections of the four legs have double convex moulding with flat edges. The flat edged mouldings stand out where apron-head spandrels form separate decorative motifs on the two sides. The aprons stand out straight, and the structure of the elongated bridle joints attach directly to the table top. The legs with continuous floor stretchers also end in feet finely covered with metal fittngs. Side stretchers join the pairs of legs, with strut supports fixed above and below, the legs distinctly splayed. The whole piece is brilliant but plain without any carved designs, and the robust use of materials really gives it the sense of a large table and strongly exemplifies the Ming style.

The Palace Museum in Beijing has a similar large red lacquered kang table, which was originally used as an altar table on which scriptures and ritual implements were placed. Another also in the Palace Museum in Beijing, illustrated in Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, pp. 152-153, no. 132, (fig. 1), that is a large zitan recessed-leg painting table more than two metres in length with similar lattice crossbraces — providing solid evidence that the present lot is an example of imperial Ming Dynasty furniture.

Sotheby's. Ming Imperial Furniture- The Biegucang Collection. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's