Antique pair of Chinese official's hat arm chairs, made of huanghuali wood with intricately woven rattan seats. Carved cusped edged apron. Dramatic grain.

Provenance: From the collection of the Santa Barbara Museum.

17th century

Dimensions: 44" high x 18 7/8" wide x 17" deep. Seat: 20 1/2" high.

The Ming dynasty tradition of mortise and tenon joinery can be seen and experienced in this later Ming form day bed. The Zitan bed platform rests soundly on all four inverted horse hoof legs. Mortise corners frame the woven bamboo rattan seat cover. For added flexibility, roped lacing and carved wooden support structures help reinforce the durability of its function.

The back and side rails form a lattice-like structure called “wheel of life” pattern. The finely polished Zitan... Click for details

A symbol of humility and modesty, a bed made for the scholar's hermitage aesthetics. Carved huanghuali wood in a naturalistic root form, constructed and joined together creating the enveloping roots and branches. The seat platform is of block wood fitted to mimic woven mats. These types of furniture are reminiscent of the Song dynasty. Scholars retreated into the mountains and relinquished materialism. The aesthetic is based on nature moving away from the lavish life style.... Click for details

A pair of Quan Yi Huanghuali horseshoe back armchairs from the 18th Century. The generously proportioned curving top rail is made in five parts using half-lap pressure peg joints terminating in a curved look beyond the goose-neck side and front corner post. The back splat is carved with a Chimera medallion. The back corner posts continues through the frame of the soft mat seat to form the back legs and front legs enclosing the cusped apron carved in relief with curling tendrils. Reinforced... Click for details

Chinese large jumu (elm) wood cabinet with natural light finish. The interior is outfitted with shelves for a TV and components. Doors on wooden dowels pocket in for a nice clean appearance. Sliding panels in the back interior allow for cords. Four interior drawers are perfect for storing CDs and DVDs. There are another two drawers on the lower exterior.

Dimensions: 69 3/4" high x 43" wide x 25 3/4" deep.

Antique Chinese low cabinet. The upper portion has two drawers over a compartment opened by two cabinet doors. The doors swing on wooden dowel hinges which seat into small decorative carved peony flowers. The interior of the cabinet has one shelf. The front is finished with a rich red lacquer while the sides and top are a dark, distressed reddish brown lacquer finish.

19th century

Dimensions: 33 1/4" high x 31 3/4" wide x 19 1/2" deep.

Antique Chinese apothecary chest. Upper portion has an open display shelf with pierced carved dragons on the sides and a medallion on the back depicting a bird on a blossoming tree branch. The middle portion has 19 drawers, all the same size with the exception of one wider drawer toward the bottom. Each drawer is divided into three sections for storage of medicines and herbs. There is a hidden storage area accessed by openings beneath the bottom drawers. Made of jumu (elm) wood and... Click for details

Antique Chinese guan pi xiang (document box), made of huanghuali hardwood and finely cut brass plate mounts and hinges. The top opens and is held in place by a small chain. The doors open to reveal 7 drawers of different sizes. Each drawer has been fitted with jewelry tray inserts covered in white raw silk.

19th century

Dimensions (when closed): 16" high x 16" wide x 10 1/2" deep

Large pair of Chinese wooden gate doors with hand-forged iron plates and hardware. The pair of doors are opened by iron fu dog heads with large ring pulls in their mouths. The top and bottom iron plates on the front of each door have foliate edges in lingzhi mushroom motifs, with iron studs and horizontal iron bands. The doors have wooden pegs to be inserted into a door frame.

Dimensions: 17 1/2" W by 76 3/4" H by 1 7/8" Thickness of wood (each door)

Chinese hardwood table made from jumu (elm) wood. The sides of the table are carved with pierced panels of dragons and clouds. The four feet are carved with spirals. Original condition.

19th Century

Dimensions: 29.75" L x 21" D x 33" H