A rare and exceptional Chinese huanghuali sedan chair, Jianyu 肩輿, signed Zhang Dai 張岱, 17th C.

Dim.: 77,5 x 75,5 x 95,5 cm

Provenance:
- A Belgian private collection.
- The collection of Mrs. M. Sergant, The Netherlands.
- Previously in the collection of Mr. Arie Mullieu, Amsterdam.

The sweeping crest rail gracefully ends in outswept hooks above horseshoe-shaped arms, forming an elegant curve over the splat, which is intricately carved in high relief with mountainous landscapes. The reverse of the splat is inscribed with a poem by Zhang Dai (1597–1624), accompanied by an artist's seal.

Above the seat framework, four tuosai panels are adorned with plum blossom and bamboo motifs. The rectangular rattan seat is supported by four elaborately carved legs with makara-shaped feet, raised on an open-framed footrest. Surrounding the seat are four intricately carved panels, featuring the Three Friends of Winter, while the front panel depicts Zhang Dai in seclusion, accompanied by two attendants. Each corner of the front panel is fitted with metal loop mounts for carriage bars.

Inscription on the back (銘文)：天明晨寒偕二童子隨行，其一抱琴，其一執壺至江邊。山水青綠江風景盛，舟少人稀飲氣之清畫江之謐，似與天地合而為一，此自達之意深為吾想。張岱。

Translation: At dawn, in the chill of morning, I set out with two young attendants—one cradling a qin, the other bearing an ewer—toward the river’s edge. The landscape, awash in vivid greens and blues, thrived beneath the gentle river breeze. With few boats on the water and scarcely a traveler in sight, the air felt pure, and the river exuded a profound tranquility, as if blending seamlessly with heaven and earth. This perfect union of nature and spirit echoes deeply within my soul. — Zhang Dai

A jianyu 肩輿 (sedan chair) was commonly used by the emperors, princes and nobles as transport for short journeys between buildings in the great palaces. According to the Mirror of Craftsmanship and Guidelines by Lu Ban, Chinese sedan chairs come in different types, this particular one is called a Yajiao shi.

Zhang Dai (1597-1624) was a famous late Ming dynasty historian and writer, he was born to a noble family and well educated with poetic aesthetic tastes, however he never passed the Imperial examinations to serve the Ming court, his hometown was destroyed with the fall of the Ming dynasty. Reluctant to serve the invader, he decided to live in seclusion with his two attendants, one depicting holding a qin, and the other an ewer, which is explained in the poem.

Ref: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong, p.36, no.22 for a closely related sedan chair. (see added scans).

(UV-checked)
- Generally in very good condition, with very nice patination.
- A few superficial chips to the rim under the openworked panels.
- A crack line of ca. 7 cm passing through the bottom of the kaobei panel.
- A crack line of ca. 8 cm on the right side of the yiquan.
- A vertical superficial bump mark to the left side of the tuosai panel on the back.

品相报告：（已用紫外线光检查）
- 整体品相非常良好，包浆自然浑厚。
- 牙角下側開窗的板的底邊幾處裂痕和飛皮。
- 一條裂痕約 7 釐米，穿過靠背板。
- 椅圈右側一處裂痕，長約 8 釐米。
- 後側托腮板的左側有一條豎狀碰撞凹痕。

Estimate: € 40000 - € 80000