Minneapolis Institute of Art

Stool

China

Date

17th century

Medium

Huang huali hardwood

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This richly carved waisted stool, because of its relatively elaborate detailing, would have been reserved for a person of high social standing. The legs, for instance, are carved with a continuous corner bead terminating in a stylized leaf motif in each of the feet. There is an elegant lip carved with a motif on two sides of each leg just below the humpback stretchers. A raised ruyi head lappet design is also carved into the shoulder of each leg and the waist itself is set off with a bead course along the rail and a continuous step-back molding around the four rails of the seat frame. The overall effect is one more sumptuous than that of a standard corner-leg stool. It is also possible that a rectangular shape, because of its more formal directional aspect (versus round or square) may have been considered more prestigious. China, Asia

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.