Cape Town, 11 October 2011

68 99 A Chinese Ju Mu elm wood, brass-mounted compound cabinet with hatbox-on-stand, Hebei province, 19th century the hatbox with rectangular top above a pair of cupboard doors enclosing a shelf, on a plinth base carved with a wave- shaped border, the cabinet with a pair of panelled doors enclosing a pair of drawers, two shelves and a secret compartment, the front apron pierced and carved with dragons, on square-section legs, 252cm high, 108,5cmwide, 57,5cm deep (2) R10 000 – 15 000 In the great houses, wardrobes were used both in the inner women’s apartments and in the reception rooms into which the male visitors were invited. If the master of the house were an official, the wardrobes in the reception rooms would contain his court robes, with the upper cupboards storing his hats. The wardrobes were placed against the side walls and never along the back wall opposite the person entering.