
Juliette Hammer
Sale Coordinator
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Sold for £6,400 inc. premium
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Sale Coordinator

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Specialist, Chinese Works of Art

Head of Chinese and Asian Art, London
十八世紀 瘤木拼龍眼木炕櫃
Longyanmu (龍眼木), or longan wood, is a dense and durable hardwood prized in Chinese craftsmanship, particularly for furniture, scholar's objects, and intricate carvings. Known for its warm golden-brown to reddish-brown hue and fine, interlocked grain, it bears similarities to huanghuali but is often denser and more textured. Highly resistant to warping and insect damage, longyanmu was a favoured material for literati items such as brush pots, wrist rests, and ruyi sceptres, often carved in naturalistic forms reminiscent of gnarled branches or weathered rocks.
The present lot adheres to the classic design principles of traditional cabinets, reflecting timeless craftsmanship and elegant proportions. See a similar jichimu kang cabinet, early Qing dynasty, illustrated by Tian Jiaqing, Chinese Classical Furniture of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong,fig.103, p.232.
Compare also with a similar small longyanmu cabinet, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2024, lot 901.