A rare pair of black lacquer gilt-decorated double-lozenge stands18th centuryEach supported on six legs of square section joined by stretchers with angular scrolls, all beneath carved ruyi-head aprons, meticulously detailed in gilt on the top with large blossoming peony flowers on a diaper-pattern ground, bordered by landscape scenes of trees and pavilions, the sides with floral scrolls extending down the legs. 87cm (34 1/4in) high x 55cm (21 5/8in) wide x 37cm (14 1/2in) deep (2).注脚十八世紀 黑漆描金牡丹圖方勝形香几一對Black and gilt lacquered furniture were most popular during the reign of the Yongzheng emperor. The high status of refined forms such as the present stands may be seen in the choice of furnishings depicted in the Yongzheng period paintings 'Twelve Beauties in the Yuanmingyuan' in the Palace Museum, Beijing. For more on the topic see Tian Jiaqing, 'Early Qing Furniture in a Set of Qing Dynasty Court Paintings', Chinese Furniture Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-2003, Hong Kong, 2004, pp.153-161; two of the paintings include black and gilt lacquer stands figs.15 and 17. Compare with a related gilt-decorated black lacquered table, Yongzheng, from the Qing Court Collection, decorated with peonies, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, no.89. For a related gilt-decorated black lacquered double-lozenge table from the Qing Court Collection, see Collections of the Palace Museum: Painted Furniture, Beijing, 2009, pl.88.