AN ELMWOOD SQUARE-CORNER TAPERING CABINET, FANGJIAOGUI18th century With an elegantly rounded protruding top with 'ice-plate' edge set on subtly splayed oval corner posts housing well-figured single panelled doors opening from the removable central stile to reveal the interior fitted with two shelves and two drawers, with a metal lock plate and pulls, all above a plain narrow apron with rounded apron spandrels. 167cm (65 6/8in) high x 92cm (36 2/8in) wide x 50cm (19 6/8in) deep. 十八世紀 榆木方角櫃 The present cabinet is based on a well-known prototype of the late Ming dynasty, exhibiting highly-refined craftsman, notable for the timeless elegance, perfect proportions and simplicity. Furniture was often selected from books of drawings at the cabinetmaker's workshop and made to the proportions required. This would have led to certain unique personal preferences in stylistic choices. For a Ming dynasty prototype, see a related pair of tapered huanghuali cabinets, early to mid-16th century, in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, illustrated by S.Handler, Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture , Los Angeles, 2001, p.251, fig.15.12 A related huanghuali square-corner tapering cabinet, 18th century, was sold at Christie's New York, 21 March 2013, lot 930.