Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

Stunning Chinese hardwood side chair exquisitely and vigorously carved with dragons, antelope heads, flowers and Chinese characters, and dating from the second half of the 19th Century.

The wood is hard and dense and is most likely to be padouk.

This is a highly sculptural piece and due to the pierced nature of the carving it would look rather dramatic against a living room or hall wall.

The tall pierced back is carved on both sides with a dragon design inside a garland of flowers, plants and Chinese characters which occupies the centre. Above this a horned antelope on a shield-shaped mount is surrounded by intertwining stems bearing leaves and flowers. Below the dragon is a similar antelope flanked by curving foliage and a pair of Chinese characters.

The chair seat has a carved border of alternating bats and Chinese characters with flower and leaf motifs in the centre of each of the four sides. The moulded edge of the seat is carved to simulate the scales of snake or dragon skin.

The seat sits on a base of four legs with each leg carved as a dragon.

Size: 45 1/2" high x 16" wide x 19 1/4" deep (seat only - 17")

Condition: The chair is in very good condition. Some odd pieces of the raised carving on the seat have worn off and there is a small chip off the back right corner of the seat, which is only visible on close inspection.