Armchair, part of a set that was imported for the Goon Dip family, ca. 1890-1910
Imported for the Goon Dip family, this rosewood chair is hand-carved, with mother-of-pearl inlay. Typical of Chinese mortise and tenon joinery, there are no metal fasteners except the coins that hold the marble back splat in place. Because abstract landscapes or figures could be seen in cut marble, it was often used as a decorative element in Chinese furniture. In the late 19th century, Goon Dip arranged the emigration of Chinese labor for Northwest canneries. He also served as Chinese consul, and owned the Milwaukee Hotel in Seattle's Chinatown. His daughter, Lillian Goon Dip, was born in 1900, grew up in the family hotel, then moved to Mercer Island, where she died in 1975.
ID Number: 1974.5914.1a
Date: 1890-1910
Physical Description: 1 Armchair; teak, marble, mother-of-pearl, bronze; 38.25 in.H x 25.5 in.W x 19.5 in.D
