Children's armchair; China, first third of the 20th century.

Children's armchair; China, first third of the twentieth century.
Jumu (elm) lacquered wood.
Measurements: 85 x 50 x 76 cm.
Chinese children's armchair, made of Jumu (elm) wood and covered with a bright red lacquer, dated in the first third of the twentieth century. Its design reflects the continuity of the traditional forms of classical Chinese furniture, in particular the curved-back chairs known as "quanyi" (??), adapted here to a child's scale. The structure consists of a raised seat, supported by four straight legs joined by crossbars, which ensure stability and solidity. The curved backrest extends into a continuous arch that simultaneously forms the armrests, a characteristic detail of the aforementioned typology. At the end of one of the armrests there is a carved and gilded decorative detail, possibly in zoomorphic form, which adds an accent of refinement to the whole.
The seat rests on a stepped base, consisting of a small platform with front steps, designed to facilitate the child's access to the chair. This base, carefully assembled and lacquered in the same tone, creates a visual balance between functionality and aesthetics.