此頂箱櫃體量宏大，非比尋常，螭龍精雕，氣勢非凡。
將這件櫃子的頂箱放置好，司徒河偉說需要六個英國壯漢才能搬動。黃花梨用料十分的厚重，因此整體的重量高達700-800公斤。
「四件櫃」一 名源於其巧妙複合構造。碩大底櫃上設以較小頂箱，此類櫃常以成對形式精心打造，巧妙設置四組獨立儲物空間，實用耐久，簡雅素麗。
此櫃工藝精湛卓絕，氣勢恢宏，乃清廷御匠所作之典範。 自明朝初年起，龍作紋飾便為皇權專屬象徵，僅見於御用器物之上，北京故宮博物院仍可見數例珍藏實例。一對， 藏於壽康宮，此對四件櫃，體量碩大，紋飾雕工精湛，遊龍穿雲，乃清廷御匠技藝登峰造極之典範。而比本品，無可厚非，實乃昔日清廷珍寶。
此櫃之珍罕，不僅見於其宏大尺寸，更見於其所用大量黃花梨木料（圖一）。黃花梨木料在中國從古至今均被視為最珍罕之木料之一，其色澤絢麗， 紋理細膩，光澤熠熠，且略帶香氣。黃花梨木僅長於中國南部及更遠的熱帶地區，生長週期漫長，數量稀少，使得尋找及運輸艱難且耗資巨大。正因如此，即便昔日清廷內，亦難得一見使用如此巨量黃花梨木料雕琢而成的家具。
此櫃尤為出眾於其櫃面淺浮雕螭龍紋，精美絕倫。此螭龍紋飾源可追溯於商朝青銅器，歷經歲月，依廣受青睞。明清晚期，家具常見螭龍紋與祥雲紋或卷葉紋結合紋樣。四扇櫃門猶如畫卷，遊龍蛇形般身形與背景精妙交織，其頭爪隱匿於四周叢葉之中，難以分辨，巧奪天工。此紋飾可比兩例清早期櫃，尺寸略小：一對，售於北京保利2020年12月5日，編號2829；另一例，類似設計，售於紐約蘇富比2013年9月17日，編號208 (圖二）。
北京保利
蘇富比
此櫃乃著錄可見現存最大尺寸四件櫃之一。縱觀同類四件櫃大多高270公分，本品高甚，約315公分。
僅見兩例類例高度超300公分：一例，雕以鳳凰紋飾，斷為康熙年製，售於北京保利2017年12月18日，編號5178；另一例，門之設計略有不同，以雲龍紋為飾，高320公分，售於北京瀚海2004年11月22日，編號3152。
保利2017
本次蘇富比拍品
估價
1,000,000 - 1,500,000 GBP
315 by 188 by 79 cm, 124 by 74 by 29⅛ in.
Provenance
Italian Private Collection.
Wannenes, 16th May 2011, lot 204.
出處
意大利私人收藏
Wannenes，2011年5月16日，編號204
GRANDEUR OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
This massive cabinet is an exceptional treasure. Of extraordinary size and graceful chi dragon decoration, this truly is a masterpiece fit for the finest of palaces.
A cabinet of such substantial use of a valuable material almost certainly finds its origins in the Imperial Workshop. From the early Ming period onwards, the use of dragon designs on furniture appears to have been strictly limited to the imperial family with several important examples still preserved in the Forbidden City in Beijing. See a related pair of sijiangui still found in the Palace of Longevity and Good Health (Shoukanggong) where the Empress Dowagers once resided, illustrated in Lin Shu, ‘Zun yang jian long: cong Shoukanggong jiaju kan Chongqing huangtaihou / Discussion on Empress Dowager Chongqing from the View of Furniture Displayed at the Palace of Longevity and Health’, Forbidden City, December 2018, pp 30-31 (Fig. 1). This massive pair, adorned with dragons swirling among clouds, is a remarkable piece of imperial craftsmanship in its own right and leaves little doubt that the present piece, even taller and grander, was once a treasure of the Qing court.
FIG. 1. A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI CABINETS AT THE SHOUKANGGONG / PALACE OF LONGEVITY AND GOOD HEALTH, PALACE MUSEUM, BEIJING
圖一 黃花梨雕雲龍紋大櫃，壽康宮後殿
This piece is also extraordinary for the extensive use of large planks of huanghuali wood. In China, huanghuali was – and continues to be – regarded as among the most precious of hardwoods due to its vibrant colour and enchanting grain pattern. Endemic to the tropical regions of southern China and beyond, finding and transporting timber from these slow-growing trees proved to be a demanding and expensive task. As a result, even in the imperial court, it is extremely rare to find pieces of furniture made from such large frames of huanghuali.
The present lot is particularly notable for the size and its outstanding low-relief decoration of chi dragon scrolls across its front panels. This chi dragon motif can be traced back to the decorative patterns on Shang dynasty bronze vessels and has remained popular ever since. In the late Ming and Qing dynasties, chi dragon motifs on furniture were often combined with abstracted scrolls of clouds or leaves. Caught up in this tangled profusion of swirling scrollwork, the serpentine body of the dragon merges with the background, leaving its head and claws almost indistinguishable from the leaves around them. Compare similar elaborate scrollwork on two other early Qing cabinets of smaller dimensions: the first, a pair decorated with swirling chi dragons and shou characters, sold at Poly Beijing, 5th December 2020, lot 1829; the other, also of related design, sold in our New York rooms, 17th September 2013, lot 208 (Fig. 2).
FIG. 2. SOTHEBY‘S NEW YORK, 17TH SEPTEMBER 2013, LOT 208
圖二 紐約蘇富比2013年9月17日，編號208
The cabinets of this design are known as sijiangui due to their ingenious compound construction. Composed of a larger lower section at the bottom and a smaller section sitting above it, cabinets of this type were frequently made in pairs and thus provided four independent storage spaces to this ‘four-part cabinet’.
Surveying publications and collections today, this cabinet appears to be one of the largest surviving examples of this design ever recorded. While most cabinets of this type are commonly found at around 270 cm, this masterpiece looms at a height of 315 cm. Only only two other examples of this style exceeding 300 cm appear to be known: one with a phoenix design, attributed to Kangxi period, sold at Poly Beijing, 18th December 2017, lot 5178; and another, of a slightly different door construction, decorated with dragons and clouds, sold at Beijing Hanhai Auctions, 22nd November 2004 , lot 3152. Compare also the front of a massive dingxianggui cabinet – of almost identical design to the present – from the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, sold without top, sides or back in our New York rooms, 10th October 1987, lot 384, and offered, reconstituted as a smaller functional cabinet, at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29th September 1992, lot 951.
17th Century Huanghuali Dragon Cabinet FAQ
What makes this 17th-century Chinese cabinet so exceptional?
This 'Huanghuali' 'Dragon' Compound Cabinet is exceptional due to its massive size, intricate chi dragon decoration, and the extensive use of rare and precious huanghuali wood. It is considered a masterpiece of imperial craftsmanship, likely originating from the Qing court.
What is the significance of the dragon motif on the cabinet?
The use of dragon designs on furniture was strictly limited to the imperial family from the early Ming dynasty onwards. This signifies the cabinet's association with the imperial court and highlights its status as a high-ranking object. The chi dragon motif itself can be traced back to Shang dynasty bronze vessels, illustrating its long-standing significance in Chinese culture.
What is huanghuali wood, and why is its use in this cabinet so remarkable?
Huanghuali is a precious hardwood highly valued in China for its vibrant color and beautiful grain pattern. It is native to the tropical regions of southern China and beyond, making it difficult and expensive to source. The extensive use of large huanghuali planks in this cabinet is extremely rare, further attesting to its imperial origins and value.
What is the meaning of the term "sijiangui," used to describe this cabinet?
"Sijiangui" refers to the cabinet's ingenious compound construction, consisting of a larger lower section and a smaller upper section. These cabinets were often made in pairs, providing four independent storage spaces, hence the name "four-part cabinet."
Are there any other similar cabinets in existence?
While other sijiangui cabinets exist, this one is notable for its immense size, standing at 315 cm tall. Only two other recorded examples exceed 300 cm in height, making this cabinet one of the largest surviving examples of its kind.
Where can I find other examples of similar cabinets for comparison?
Similar, though smaller, cabinets with elaborate chi dragon scrollwork can be found in museums and auction records. For instance, a pair was sold at Poly Beijing in 2020, and another was sold at Sotheby's New York in 2013. The Palace Museum in Beijing also houses a related pair of sijiangui in the Palace of Longevity and Good Health.
What is the provenance of this specific cabinet?
This cabinet comes from an Italian Private Collection and was previously auctioned at Wannenes on May 16th, 2011, as lot number 204.
What is the estimated value of this cabinet?
The estimated value of this exceptional cabinet is between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 GBP. This valuation reflects its rarity, size, exquisite craftsmanship, and imperial associations.
Timeline of Events
This timeline focuses on the creation and ownership of the “Exceptional And Massive ‘Huanghuali’ ‘Dragon’ Compound Cabinet”:
17th Century: The cabinet is created, likely by artisans in the Imperial Workshop during the late Ming or early Qing Dynasty.
Early Ming Dynasty Onwards: Dragon designs become restricted to objects made for the Imperial family.
Pre-2011: The cabinet resides in an unspecified Italian Private Collection.
May 16, 2011: The cabinet is auctioned by Wannenes, lot number 204.
Post-2011: The current owner and location of the cabinet are unknown.
Cast of Characters
The Imperial Artisans: The unnamed craftspeople who designed and built the cabinet during the 17th century. They likely worked within the Imperial Workshop and were highly skilled in woodworking and the use of huanghuali wood.
The Imperial Family (Ming & Qing Dynasties): Though unnamed, the Imperial families of both the Ming and Qing dynasties play a crucial role. The restriction of dragon motifs to objects intended for their use highlights the cabinet's significance and likely origin within the Imperial Workshop.
Empress Dowagers residing in the Palace of Longevity and Good Health (Shoukanggong): While specific names aren't given, these Empress Dowagers possessed a similar, though smaller, pair of ‘sijiangui’ cabinets, offering a point of comparison for the grandeur and likely Imperial origin of the cabinet in question.
Italian Private Collector: This individual or entity owned the cabinet for an unspecified time before putting it up for auction in 2011. Their identity remains unknown.
Wannenes: An Italian auction house that facilitated the sale of the cabinet on May 16, 2011.
Lin Shu: Author of the article "Discussion on Empress Dowager Chongqing from the View of Furniture Displayed at the Palace of Longevity and Health” published in Forbidden City in December 2018. This article provides valuable context by describing a similar pair of cabinets located in the Palace Museum, Beijing.
Poly Beijing: An auction house that, on December 5, 2020, sold a smaller pair of cabinets decorated with chi dragons and shou characters, providing a stylistic comparison to the main cabinet.
Sotheby’s New York: This auction house sold another similar, but smaller, cabinet on September 17, 2013. This sale further establishes the rarity and value of the larger cabinet.
Art Institute of Chicago: This institution previously owned a ‘dingxianggui’ cabinet of remarkably similar design to the featured cabinet. The cabinet was sold in parts through Sotheby's and Christie's, highlighting the rarity of a complete and massive example like the one being described.
Beijing Hanhai Auctions: An auction house that, on November 22, 2004, sold a large cabinet with a dragon and cloud design and slightly different door construction. This sale offers another point of comparison in terms of size and style.
Christie’s Hong Kong: An auction house that sold a reconstituted, smaller version of the Art Institute of Chicago's ‘dingxianggui’ cabinet on September 29, 1992.
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