of elegant proportions, the removable back and arm rails of solid board nanmu panels carefully inlaid with huanghuali, the center panel with a pair of sinuous confronting chilong in low relief each within a rectangular frame and centered by a raised boxwood circular medallion of a stylized shou character, the side panels each with a single dragon similar to the others, the inlaid frame also on the back of the three panels, all held in position by locking dovetail tenons, the seat frame of standard miter, mortise and tenon construction supported by two bowed transverse stretchers in the middle and four corner braces mortised and tenoned into the long and short members of the frame, drilled for a soft mat seat, the straight apron slightly recessed and raised on four sturdy legs of square section terminating in inward turned hoof feet (4)

Manfred Schoeni, Hong Kong.

There are short horizontal filled splits to all three side boards. There is an oval shaped patch repair to short side of the seat frame. One back leg has two large patch repairs and the others with some filled repairs. The joints have been consolidated as expected.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

There are very few examples of couch beds, such as the present, with original back and arms datable to the late Ming early Qing dynasty. Because the rails are detachable, they are prone to damage and loss necessitating replacement. A similar bed but of jumu with confronting dragons is illustrated in Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture, vol. II, Hong Kong 1990, pl. C7. In vol. I of the same (ibid, p. 171), the author discusses the dating of carved dragons, relating the more abbreviated, seemingly worn surface  type such as the present example to an archaistic revival of the late 17th early 18th century. A couch bed of tieli and jichimu, carved with roundels of coiled chilong, in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, is illustrated in Robert D. Jacobsen and Nicholas Grindley, Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1999, pp. 84-85, no. 23.  Another fine example, all of huanghuali wood, with boldly carved confronting chilong, is illustrated in Grace Wu Bruce, Dreams of Chu Tan Chamber and the Romance with Huanghuali Wood: The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong 1991, p. 128, no. 50.