A MATCHED PAIR OF FILLED IN AND INCISED RED LACQUER TABLES

Kangxi period, 1662–1722
China

height: 73.5 cm
width: 96.5 cm
Depth: 66 cm

The lacquer technique known as t’ien-ch’i is accomplished by building up layers over wood covered in hemp cloth. Each layer is left to dry and then polished down; when thick enough, the design is cut into the surface and these areas filled in with lacquers of different colours – the outlines often gilded. The technique is known in French as ‘laque cuir’ and the effect is like old leather – sober yet warm with its limited range of colours in ochre, red, green, black and brown.

Each table has a rectangular top supported on a high waist with elongated openings above a scalloped apron, on four winged cabriole legs with scroll feet obscured by upturned leaves. Apart from the tops, both tables are adorned with an all over design of repeating lotus flower and scrolling leaves; a Greek key edge frames the top and a lotus petal border lies above the apron. The tops each have different decoration within a large central cartouche depicting birds, rocks, flowers and trees in typical 17th century style; the area outside each cartouche is also decorated differently – one with lotus flowers and scrolling leaves, and the other with a geometric repeated key pattern.

similar examples
‘The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum’, Furniture of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1), Hong Kong, 2002 – nos. 91 and 104.