huanghuali rectangular stool, the typical mitred, mortice and tenon frame top with a soft matting seat with two curved transverse stretchers; outside edge of the frame of unusual profile with a concave center section curving down to a square shoulder below; recessed waist made separately from apron, with a raised prominent bead below; apron is mitred and half-lapped into the legs, carved with ruyi head lappets to the shoulder and a raised bead which follows the inside edge of the leg terminating in the horse-hoof foot; part of the way down the leg is a small hip carved with a leaf motif in conjunction with the raised bead; legs are joined by high hump-back stretchers, slightly recessed and convex to the outer face, and tenoned into the legs; outside edge of the horse-hoof foot is carved with a stylized leaf motif

Stool, 17th century

Unknown artist, expand_more

Huang huali hardwoodexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  2003.139

On View in Gallery 216expand_more

This richly carved waisted stool, because of its relatively elaborate detailing, would have been reserved for a person of high social standing. The legs, for instance, are carved with a continuous corner bead terminating in a stylized leaf motif in each of the feet. There is an elegant lip carved with a motif on two sides of each leg just below the humpback stretchers. A raised ruyi head lappet design is also carved into the shoulder of each leg and the waist itself is set off with a bead course along the rail and a continuous step-back molding around the four rails of the seat frame. The overall effect is one more sumptuous than that of a standard corner-leg stool. It is also possible that a rectangular shape, because of its more formal directional aspect (versus round or square) may have been considered more prestigious.

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Details
Title
Stool
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2003.139
Curator Approved

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huanghuali rectangular stool, the typical mitred, mortice and tenon frame top with a soft matting seat with two curved transverse stretchers; outside edge of the frame of unusual profile with a concave center section curving down to a square shoulder below; recessed waist made separately from apron, with a raised prominent bead below; apron is mitred and half-lapped into the legs, carved with ruyi head lappets to the shoulder and a raised bead which follows the inside edge of the leg terminating in the horse-hoof foot; part of the way down the leg is a small hip carved with a leaf motif in conjunction with the raised bead; legs are joined by high hump-back stretchers, slightly recessed and convex to the outer face, and tenoned into the legs; outside edge of the horse-hoof foot is carved with a stylized leaf motif