Folding chair with horseshoe-shaped backrest. Wood with lacquer finish over fabric. Qing period On round legs with a horseshoe-shaped backrest running in a wide curve and armrests ending in volutes; movable footrest resting on small feet with a curved frame; a backrest with two panels, the upper one with floral ornamentation in a cloud-head-shaped recess, the lower one with a matching recess, curved spandrels below the armrests. Tensioned seat made of braided cords, bronze hinges. Chipped lacquer. H 104 cm; seat height 63 cm; W 70.5 cm; D 60.5 cm Provenance Private collection, Munich

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.