Rosewood Tai-Shi Chair with Mother of Pearl Inlay
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
- Rosewood - A dense timber that varies in shade to very light brown to almost black. When rosewood is cut and sanded the colour of the timber will turn black, and after polishing and exposure to daylight, the surface will gradually lighten over time to light brown with black streaks.
The name comes from the odour emanating from the timber when it is planed, sanded or cut.
Rosewood was very popular for use in Victorian furniture in the second half of the 19th century, and at that time most of the rosewood was imported from Brazil. However it also grows in India and Indonesia.
It is used in the sold for chairs and table legs, but for carcase furniture such as side cabinets and bookcases, and for table tops it is always used as a veneer. - Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- Chinese furniture, chairs
- Chinese furniture, tables - tables and chairs, marble and mother of pearl inlay or inset 164
Visually similar items
A pair of Straits Chinese rosewood and mother of pearl inlaid armchairs late 19th century. Carved and pierced, the rouge marble seat below a backrest with a circular frame of shou characters inset with a medallion of pink variegated marble
A Japanese carved and openwork hardwood chair, early 20th century, circa 1930, 99 cm high
A Chinese hardwood carved dragon chair with pierced decoration, early 20th century, 107 cm high, 62.5 cm wide and 48 cm deep
Antique Chinese rosewood armchair. with marble insert seat and back, richly carved with shell inlay, standing on ball claw feet