Pair of Administrator's Chairs

These 19th-century walnut tall back chairs were handmade by a gifted artisan from China’s Shanxi province, who personalized his work by painting his name "San Dou Tan" onto each. The rustic form hearkens back to classical Chinese furniture design but is shaped by the artist’s aesthetic sense, especially notable in the cusped spandrels tucked beneath the top rail and armrests. The arms are delicately curved, the spandrels are scalloped, and the finish has worn beautifully.