Yun An Museum Acquires a Huanghuali Official’s Hat Chair, Late 16th–Early 17th Century

This huanghuali official’s hat chair, dated to the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, exemplifies the design principles associated with Ming furniture. Its finely textured wood and elegant grain bring the natural qualities of the material to the foreground.

The upper profile recalls the form of an official’s hat, giving this chair type its name. Clean, flowing lines and carefully balanced proportions create a dignified yet restrained appearance. The woven rattan seat combines comfort with practical use.

Chairs of this type formed part of the cultivated interiors associated with scholars and connoisseurs. Their restrained decoration and precise construction reflect a concern for the relationship between utility and beauty. The present example offers an opportunity to appreciate the harmony of structure, material and proportion in Chinese classical furniture.

Provenance:
Christie’s Paris, 2024.
Acquired from Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong, on 15 July 1994.