A Chinese Huanghuali drawer coffer

18th century

Carved with lingzhi motifs with flowing, tangled roots.

H: 32 5/8, W: 37 3/4, D: 18 1/8 in.

H: 82.87, W: 95.88, D: 46.04 cm.

Provenance: Private collection, Virginia.

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This elegant cabinet is crafted of huanghuali wood, with a deep red hue and calming patina. Consisting of two panels spliced together, the top of the cabinet has a rich, luminous finish and contrasting tones. Below the panels are crescent-shaped support to either side, connected to the tenons, framing a drawer intricately carved with floral patterning and finished with a round-ring handle. The skirt below the hidden compartment is carved with a tangled floral crest, accented with sharp contours along the edge. The cabinet is supported by four sturdy, cuboid legs. Huanghuali wood is extremely precious, and this huanghuali cabinet possesses both great practicality and collectability. See below references for similar items: Christie's New York, September 2013, Lot 1560 and Christie's New York, March 2019, Lot 1200.

悶戶櫥的名字，得源於其特殊的結構。歷史上有很多巧匠會為家具設計各式各樣的機關、暗道，作為儲放重要文件、金銀細軟的隱秘之地。而悶戶櫥身上就有一個特殊的隱蔽空間——悶倉，這也是悶戶櫥得名的由來。
王世襄在《明式家具研究》中錶示，雖然悶戶櫥在明代很流行，但這種形製在更早的古代家具中十分罕見，出現應當晚於凳、椅、桌、案等一般常見的家具，其外形也極具「混搭」風格。從外觀來看，悶戶櫥形如條案與矮櫃的結合體。上面是條案的樣子，有的有翹頭，有的無翹頭，可以承置、擺放物品。案條下方是抽屜和悶倉，用以收納、儲藏物品。通常抽屜櫃面、悶倉的立墻上會有雕花裝飾，悶倉立墻的線條讓整個悶戶櫥的線條更加柔和，打破了櫃子方方正正的外形，更具有裝飾性，並且兼有兩種家具的造型，其實用性大大提高。
黃花梨單屜悶戶櫥，比聯二聯三少很多。此件黃花梨色澤紅郁，包漿沈著，臺面由兩塊面闆拼接而成，闆下兩邊安月牙形掛牙，與堵頭榫卯相接。面闆下一抽屜，雕卷草紋配有圓形手環，悶倉下雕卷草紋壸門牙子，沿邊起線爽利。四足方形，微微有側腳。黃花梨材料珍貴無比，經加工成器，兼具實用與收藏於一體。

相似藏品可參閱：佳士得拍賣2013年09月紐約拍賣，編號1560
佳士得拍賣2019年03月紐約拍賣，編號1200