Qilin and Phoenix Pattern Four-Out-Head Chair

Width: 66cm, Depth: 49.5cm, Total Height: 108cm, Seat Height: 47.5cm

This official's hat chair is quite large, more than seven or eight centimeters wider than a regular chair. It is also made of very thin materials, with legs that are only about 2 centimeters long, achieving a spacious and elegant effect.
The crest rail has gentle undulations and is fitted with small horn teeth between it and the hind legs, which serve both a decorative and structural purpose.
The backrest is truly exquisite. It features a three-tiered design: a circular halo at the top and a rectangular, rounded-corner panel at the bottom, perfectly embodying the ancient Chinese philosophical concept of a round heaven and a square earth. The circular halo is decorated with a relief of a phoenix facing the sun, interspersed with peony ornaments. The rectangular, rounded-corner panel is decorated with a relief of a qilin (a mythical creature with a dragon's head), round eyes, wide-open beak, whiskers and hair gathered into a single, forward-pointing tuft, and fluttering antennae—characteristics of dragon motifs from the Wanli period. The qilin is covered in scales, with flame-like wings at the base of its legs, a raised tail, one front leg lifted, the other upright, and the hind leg half-bent, in a joyous leaping posture, conveying a sense of celebration. Beside the qilin are ancient, graceful pines, and in the distance, clouds support mountains. Above, auspicious clouds arch around the sun, while below are scattered treasures such as fire pearls, ruyi scepters, rhinoceros horns, and coral, depicting a scene of peace and prosperity. The footrest is very high, in a cusped shape, with scrolling grass patterns on both sides and a relief of a dragon looking back, seemingly floating in the air, exceptionally graceful. The carving technique is meticulous and elegant, with distinct layers and accurate depiction of objects. It is similar to the carving techniques used for small bamboo, wood, ivory, and horn pieces, and is a model of exquisite craftsmanship.
The armrests are gentle, with winding curves, and corner braces are attached between the straight gooseneck and the armrests. The connecting rods are in the shape of a vase, with bamboo joint patterns on the top. This type of vase-shaped bamboo joint connecting rod is a common structure in early antique furniture, and it is found in all furniture made of hardwoods such as huanghuali. The seat has a raised ridge in the middle along the ice-tray edge, with arc shapes on both sides, which is called "civil and military line" in the Jiangnan region, and is very vigorous. A narrow, plain, straight apron is installed at the front between the legs, with fine lines along the edges to emphasize the outline, making it feel more ethereal and beautiful. The other three sides are connected by aprons, and the legs are fitted with low stretchers at the front and back.
This official's hat chair has an excellent design and is a rare style, embodying the refined and upright spirit of Ming furniture. The decoration on the back panel is also in the rich and ornate style, which is elaborate but not chaotic. The beautiful, sculptural connecting rods echo it, adding a touch of nobility to the elegance.

For reference to the design: A pair from the Hong Kong Jiamutang Collection, sold at China Guardian 2012 Hong Kong Autumn Auction, "Guanhua – Masterpieces of Ming and Qing Classical Furniture and Garden Furnishings," LOT.0361. Also auctioned at Poly Auction on June 5, 2019. These four official hat chairs are identical in shape and size, with symmetrical patterns in pairs, indicating they were part of a set. The qilin and phoenix motifs were not used by ordinary people in ancient times; these chairs likely originated from the residence of an official.