Pair of rare mid-19th century Chinese elm wood horseshoe back quanyi chairs. Each with a U-form crestrail. Each with a carved and bowed paneled splat decorated with a ruyi panel above a panel with a Buddhist lion flanked by pierced fretwork. With newer caned seats and high-arched stretchers. It is unusual to see hardwood chairs with carvings such as this.

Provenance: Sotheby's, New York, "Fine Chinese Ceramics, Furniture and Works of Art," November 29 & 30, 1995, Lot 349; The collection of Bruce Dayton and Ruth Stricker Dayton - Selections from The Marsh, Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Each, height: 39 in x width: 26 3/4 in x depth: 21 in. The chairs are overall structurally sound and stable. There is some minor to moderate separation to the joints of both chairs. There are some areas, mostly along the edges of the seats, with splits to the wood; to the chair pictured left, the panel second from the top and the bottom panel along the back splat have horizontal splits. Rubbing along the high points, especially to the chair pictured in the left. Some wear including some areas of moisture exposure, small chips along the edges, light scratches and scuffs, and some looseness to the caned seats of both chairs. To the chair pictured right, the two spindles along the arms are loose.