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Subject:Pair of Ming style meditation benches tested Pterocarpus sp.
Posted By: Vivien Thu, Mar 24, 2016 IP: 70.211.1.44
Thanks for the previous response! Better pictures, and results from lab test. This pair of stools each measure 28” x 28” x 21” tall.
This wood is hard and heavy and dense. The lab found the wood to be Pterocarpus sp. So, I believe this would be considered to be a huali wood. I believe the tops were reworked with a panel to transform these to tables. The previous owner thought these were acquired in the 1980’s in Hong Kong, or Singapore.
Unfortunately the wood was dyed black at some point, the dye has faded mostly, but it is still heavy in places, in the grain, and blotchy. I think the underside is what the wood would look like if it was refinished (if the dye could come out).
But, I think the patina is interesting as-is, as opposed to refinishing. Unfortunately I am hearing that 80 percent of actual buyers (excluding a small percentage of connoisseurs ) want nice pretty refinished furniture, and I am thinking of having these restored to grass mat meditation stools.
Any opinions as to the age of the original stools?
Below is a link to a gallery with more photos.
Thanks for any opinions on age, and many thanks to previous responder! I think my prev photos were not great,and the hardness just does not depict well in the photos due to the blotchy dyed patina, dryness of this wood ,etc.
The only other examples I can find close to this pair in form is a China Guardian 2014 auction meditation stool lot Number 5004 : A Choice Collection—Chinese Ming Furniture from the Grace Wu Bruce Collection. Thanks.
Link :Many more photos here:
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