Chinese Black and Polychrome Lacquered Eight-Panel Screen

The rectangular padded seat covered in brown leather, opening to reveal a set of library steps, over a solid inlaid seat-rail and ring-turned tapering legs ending in castors. 18in. high, 34 1/2in. wide and 16 1/2in. deep. Opened, 36in. high and 49in. wide. Rooms organized during the Regency period as libraries often had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The upper shelves were difficult to reach, so movable library stairs were invaluable. Further, libraries were one of the most important rooms in a stately house, symbol of its owner's wealth, culture and status. As a consequence, designers, architects and cabinet or chair makers devoted much attention to its architecture and decoration. Hence, the emrgence of innovative ideas such as our bench. Enter the Regency era metamorphic library chair/bench (chairs are more common than benches)! The tables, chairs and stools containing library steps were patented in Great Britain by Robert Campbell in 1774 but this innovative chair-based design did not become immediately popular. Once the Regency was established, a neo-classical interpretation of Campbell’s Metamorphic Library Chair concept started to become popular in London. Any early attributions rely heavily on two contemporary sketches...

Each porcelain vase finely decorated with vividly colored flowers, reeds and peacocks in the Chinese Famille Rose style, each raised on a Chinese style wood base and adorned with a s...

With later embellishments, the rectangular ratcheted and adjustable raisable top with book stop and lacquered top depicting vessels and plants, the ratchet w...

With a corona cast with swags of flowers, above a spirally fluted central stem supporting eight scrolled candle-arms cast with acanthus leaves. Electrified.

Rare and unusual Chinese export eight panel lacquered coromandel screen depicting six beauties. The scene is bordered by a walled pavilion with pagodas and trees. The women appear to...

Celestial Chinese export coromandel four-panel screen depicting figures in colorful robes in a heavenly landscape among the white clouds. Eac...

Beautifully weathered Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen decorated on both sides. The screen features a pavilion landscape on one side and a floral and fauna landscape on th...

Rare, bespoke lacquered eight-panel coromandel screen made in the Ming Dynasty style by Gracie Studio artisans in New York. Modern custom-made coromandel...