A pair of 'huanghuali' 'lamp-hanger' side chairs (Dengguayi), 17th century

Collection of O. Edmund and Mariann Clubb.

Sotheby’s New York, 16th September 1998, lot 110.

Chairs of this fine type are known to the cabinet makers of Beijing as dengguayi (‘lamp hanger chairs’) after the resemblance of their narrow back splats to bamboo lamp hangers. Such chairs served a similar function to stools, in that they could be easily moved around the domestic setting, but are considerably more comfortable to sit in thanks to the backrest. Compare the present chairs to a pair of huanghuali lamp hanger side chairs sold at Christie's New York, 25th September 2020, lot 1651 for $437,500.