A Pair of Horseshoe Armchairs

17th Century
Continuous Horseshoe Armchairs
Ipe (Zitan)
102 x 61 x 47cm, seat height 52cm

• The chair was discovered in Wuwei, Gansu Province, along with a large rosewood cabinet. Wuwei was an important trading center at the intersection of the Silk Road and the Great Wall. It is highly improbable that they were local products, but rather brought from the capital by high-ranking officials or wealthy merchants.
• The circular armrests are smoothly finished, culminating in neatly curled handrests.
• The shape of the backrest features a protruding flange, with a crest carved at the top, and patterns of beams and pillars at the bottom. The style and glaze color of the crest seem inconsistent with the base, indicating it might be a later embellishment.
• The seat frame is woven from soft rattan. The openings on the front and sides below are decorated with a relief-carved apron all around. Traces of nail holes on the top of the footrest show that a protective plate had been installed previously.

Reference and image source: Liang Yi Museum