A Huanghuali Couch-Bed, Luohan Chuang

Late Ming Dynasty
Couch Bed
Cocobolo (Huanghuali)

• The removable back and arms are crafted with double-mitred and mortised small members, creating a wan (swastika "卍") character pattern for aesthetic and structural integrity.
• The seat frame employs standard mitered corner joint, bolstered by four transverse braces that are mortised and tenoned into the frame's longer sections, featuring a wojiao moulded edge that curves inward at the top and finishes with a thumb moulding and a flat band at the bottom. The frame is lined with soft matting, currently coir netting and old matting.
• The recessed, thumb-moulded waist and straight apron, adorned with wojiao beaded-edge and thumb mouldings, are mortised, tenoned, and half-lapped to the straight, square beaded-edge legs, which taper inward at the base to end in recessed, square, low foot pads. A pin is inserted inside the long apron through the large edge of the seat to enhance stability.

Reference and image source: Sotheby's Hong Kong Limited