197 × 60 × 87 cm. （77 1⁄2 × 23 5⁄8 × 34 1⁄4 in.）

The waisted recatangular floating panel top above a beaded apron with pairs of confronted chilong grasping a cerntral scrolling tendril ， supported on powerful cabriole legs with fierce animal head corners carved with jaws agape ， descending into beaded ‘S’-shaped legs terminating in muscular claws grasping the ball feet.

As noted by Wang Shixiang and C. Evarts in Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture ， Hong Kong 1995 ， p. 110 ， the unusual use of ‘S’ curved legs found on the present table has been variously referred to as ‘praying mantis leg’ ， ‘elephant trunk leg’ or ‘dragonfly leg’ and although often more associated with Western-style furniture ， the form appears to have originated in China and been transmitted from China to the West in the late 17th and early 18th century where the French term ‘cabriole leg’ was adopted. The use of spirited lion-masks and claws on the corners and feet of the table ， coupled with writhing chilong on the aprons ， is frequently found on low kang tables of the late 17th and early 18th century but it is very rare to find this design on taller side tables such as the present example. The only comparable side table with carbriole legs ， from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection ， is illustrated ， by Wang Shixiang and Curtis Evarts ， op. cit. ， p. 110 ， no. 52 and subsequently sold at Christie’s New York ， Important Chinese Furniture Formerly the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection ， 19 September 1996 ， lot 94. The cabriole legs are less pronounced than on the present example and rather than lion masks and claws at the corners and feet ， the curved legs are formed at the trunk of an elephant descending from elephant heads at the corners. The rarity of this design in high side tables may be attributed to the large pieces of timber required to form cabriole legs ， even more so when the curvature is very pronounced as on the present table. Tall cabriole legs can also be found on huanghuali incense stands ， xiangji ， such as the example from the Chuang Family Bequest in the Shanghai Museum illustrated in The Chuang Family Bequest of Fine Ming and Qing Furniture in the Shanghai Museum ， Hong Kong ， 1998 ， p. 52 ， no. 17. The other distinctive feature on the present table is the powerfully carved claw and ball feet. This design also features on kang tables of this type but are they are very rarely carved with such vigour.

Price estimate:
HKD: 5,000,000 - 7,000,000
USD: 646,000 - 904,400

Auction Result:
HKD: 5,900,000