White Porcelain Chair. China, 18th Century.

A rare drum-shaped porcelain chair, wheel-thrown in several sections and assembled using slip; clay balls crushed into small discs were also glued to the slip to imitate the drum’s studs. Openings were cut out with a knife to lighten the chair’s silhouette. A thick, creamy white glaze covers the entire piece. This form was highly prized and widely copied in the 20th century and continues to be so today. Modern copies are produced using molds in a quasi-industrial process. It is very rare to find this type of 18th-century chair in good condition because, as pieces of furniture, they were regularly moved, often outdoors into gardens. It is a miracle that any still survive today in good condition. No cracks or chips, no restoration. Two missing nails and a few fissures caused by the porcelain’s shrinkage—almost as if it were melting—in the kiln. Normal wear and tear that in no way detracts from its aesthetic appeal. 18th-century Chinese work. 47x41 cm.