Really old China

After the less than interesting pieces of furniture in Friday's post, I thought it only appropriate that there should be a treat.

In the top picture an elegant wooden settee with rattan-covered headrests is surrounded by exquisite fabrics from Fadini Borghi, with suitably regal colouring, although red was in fact the designated colour for the emperor; the lattice screens are backed in a perhaps more appropriate yellow.

The huanghuali latticework square-corner cabinet c. C17th-18th was offered for sale at Christies in Park Avenue in 1997 at USD60-80,000 although today it would certainly fetch considerably more.

Huanghuali (yellow flowering pearwood, a member of the rosewood family) is extremely rare and prices for pieces have risen considerably. In many cases the style and simplicity of the design is the joy of much of the work using this wood.