17TH/18TH CENTURY

The fangjiaogui, or square-corner cabinet, appears to be rarer than its counterpart, the yuanjiaogui, or tapered cabinet, which is most often constructed with rounded corners. The form of the present cabinet, with its attractive straight lines and pleasing aesthetic, has made it one of the most successful forms in Chinese furniture construction. See Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture: Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, vol. II, Hong Kong, 1990, no. D33 for another example of this type, and vol. I, pp. 87-9 for a discussion of the form. Compare, also, the huanghuali square-corner cabinet of 17th/18th century date, sold by Christie's, New York, 22-23 March 2012, lot 1726.