Chinese Armchair with Rattan Inset

The crest rail curls up at each end like a confident moustache.

This armchair with rattan inset comes from China, is contemporary, and is made of elm wood and rattan. Its yoke-back form follows the classic Chinese official's hat chair, so called because the crest rail was said to resemble the winged hat of a scholar-official. A single wide splat shows the elm's swirling grain under a red finish worn to brown in places. The arms curve forward to rounded ends. The seat is a woven rattan panel, and shaped aprons and stretchers brace the legs. It is 23.5 inches long, 18 deep and 43.5 high.

Sit up straight. The chair already does.