African Blackwood Official's Hat Armchair, with Carved Qilin and Phoenix Motif

This armchair is adapted from a piece formerly in the collection of the renowned antique connoisseur Eskenazi. The original work is a Huanghuali Four-post Official's Hat Armchair with Qilin and Phoenix Motifs, which is included in Catalogue of 20 Years' Masterpieces from Guardian Auctions.

Sharing the same structural design as traditional Suzhou-style Four-post Official's Hat Armchairs, this piece stands out for its generous dimensions and elaborate ornamentation. The backrest is constructed in a framed-panel structure, divided into three distinct sections, all adorned with vivid, lifelike hand-carved details. The upper section features the iconic motifs of "Rising Phoenix Facing the Sun" on top and Qilin patterns in the middle, exuding a natural grace. The Qilin carvings echo the ancient cosmic symbolism of "round heaven and square earth" embodied in the upper panel’s design. The lower section is crafted with openwork spandrels, depicting a Chi-dragon looking backward as if recounting legends of the past.

The seat is made of a single, carefully selected solid plank. A striking highlight lies in the vase-shaped stretcher between the armrests, which is carved with bamboo joint patterns—a subtle nod to the auspicious Chinese saying "peaceful tidings brought by bamboo". The seat rim is finished with an ice-plate edge, boasting centered ridge lines and curved sides, showcasing the classic Suzhou-style "ornamental concave-convex moldings" (literally "civil-military lines"). With continuous solid wood rails running front to back, the armchair represents a masterwork of rigorous material selection and impeccable craftsmanship.