63×66×97 cm (24 3/4×25 1/2×38 1/4 in)

This highly unusual chair bears a straight crestrail, supported on curved back posts that continue through separate front and back seat-frame members to form legs. The legs are secured with cross-hinges and set with a footrest above the shoe feet. As the back posts are slightly curved here, it is interesting to note that members of any curved or shaped Chinese hardwood furniture were never steamed or bent, instead the shape was formed from planing down a longer piece of valuable wood. In some instances, several curved pieces or posts were carved from the same piece of timber, cut side-by- side in identical curving profile. The posts were then used for identical sets of furniture without the loss of too much wood.
The flat backsplat of the present chair is carved with a rectangular panel of five bats (wufu) enclosing a field of clouds which form an x-framed character, possibly a stylized shou. The integration of five bats in the carving of the splat clearly dates it to the beginning of the 18th century. Schuyler Cammann, in his work on Chinese textiles and rank badges, established that textiles with designs of bats did not occur prior to the Qianlong period.
The unsupported folding structure is strengthened slightly by metal strap mounts at all key joins, including those at the crestrail and both shoe-feet, as well as to the front and back seat members.
——Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, Chinese Funiture: One Hundred and Three Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection Ⅱ

Price estimate:
HKD: 2,000,000 - 3,000,000
USD: 256,900 - 385,400

Auction Result:
HKD: --