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Chair

1600-50

Now nearly extinct, huanghuali was prized from the mid-Ming for its lustrous color, patterning, and sweet fragrance. Nicknamed the “official's hat” (putou), these chairs have protruding crest rails resembling the brim of a hat, a shape echoed by the prominent arms and arched apron. A large piece of timber was generously used to carve ideal curves. “Gooseneck” front posts connect the arms to the seat.

Huanghuali (yellow rosewood)

42 1/2 x 24 7/16 x 22 7/16 in.

Gift of Marjorie and Albert Ravenholt

2010.39.1

Provenance: Purchased by Albert Ravenholt in Shanghai, 1940s

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Pure Amusements: Wealth, Leisure, and Culture in Late Imperial China, Dec. 24, 2016 - May 15, 2022.

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