A Rare Corner-Leg Stool

Materials and Date

Huanghuali wood, 17th century

H

50cm (19¾in)

W

56cm (22in)

D

47cm (18½in)

Full Description

This stool is a wonderful example of the corner-leg design which is one of the major types of Chinese stool. The framed top sits on a flat waist and apron that are made from a single piece of wood. The C-shaped legs terminate in “hoof” feet that are not, as the name would suggest, inspired by animal feet, but are rather a visual reminder of the earlier style (box-construction) from which this form evolved.

This stool is made from particularly thick material with strongly incurving legs. All of the surfaces are left plain except for a strong beading along the inside edges of the legs and aprons that help accentuate the curves. When discussing an identical pair of stools (probably from the same set) formerly in the collection of the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture (Renaissance, CA) famed Chinese scholar Wang Shixiang states ;

“… stools made of thick timbers, with strongly curved legs and exceedingly fine design and workmanship, are very rare…. Although other fine stools may come to light, these two pairs in California (plates 15 and 16) will always rank amongst the very best examples.”1

Similar examples:

For a pair of stools identical to this one (probably part of a larger set) see “Masterpieces From The Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture” Cat. # 16 (p.34).