Page 174 - Christie's Hong Kong Important Chinese Works Of Art May 30 2022

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2900 Continued

An Imperial throne setting includes five elements of furniture: the 寶座是帝王權力及尊榮的象徵，一般與屏風、腳踏、香几及宮扇組成宮廷家
throne, the pair of incense stands, the foot stool, the pair of fan holders, 具，放置在宮殿正中。據故宮博物院胡德生先生統計，故宮珍藏的寶座大約
and the screen. This suite of furniture created a platform upon which
the emperor would be seen by his subjects and embodied the ultimate 只有三十件，而寶座與一般家具不一樣，舒適度非最重要考量，其代表禮儀
symbol of imperial power. Their production was highly regulated in 及權力的象徵才是首要功能（見，胡德生說寶座，載於《紫禁城》，2006年
terms of size, decoration and the materials used. Placed centrally in an 4期，頁15）。本寶座用料珍貴，構造繁複，背板及兩邊扶手板心都是一面嵌
Imperial hall, every throne setting had to create an imposing scene by 高浮雕龍紋紫檀木、一面嵌描金繪雲龍紋黑漆，堂皇華貴，盡顯皇權威嚴。
being majestic in scale, constructed of the finest and rarest materials,
and of the highest possible workmanship. The complex construction 本寶座四腿及牙條上雕刻的洛可可風蕃蓮紋，與故宮博物院藏一件清中
of the current throne, combining superbly carved zitan wood, gilt- 期紫檀寶座上之蓮紋風格非常相似，可資比較，見《明清宮廷家具大觀》，
lacquer panels intricately painted with dragons, and graceful scrolling 北京，2006年，圖版56。紫檀板心上浮雕的雲龍紋，也可與美國C. Ruxton
rails, is a fine testament to the exacting standards expected from an
Imperial throne. 及Audrey B. Love舊藏一張定年十八/十九世紀的紫檀雕龍紋寶座比較，
2004年10月20日於紐約佳士得拍賣，拍品315號。
The elegant lotus scroll on the apron and the graceful upturned leaf- 漆金板心上之描金雲龍紋生動矯健，與美國明尼阿波利斯美術館藏一張
form feet found on the present throne are closely related to that found 彩漆三屏寶座上的龍紋風格接近，可參考R. Jacobsen and N. Grindley著，
on another zitan throne in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in
Ming Qing Gongting Jiaju Da Guan, Beijing, 2006, pl. 56, where it is dated 《Classical Chinese Furniture in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts》，明尼
to the mid-Qing dynasty. Like the Palace example, the present throne 阿波利斯，1999年，圖20。
would likely have been set into a base stretcher for additional support.
The high-relief carving of coiling dragons can also be compared to a
carved zitan throne, also dating to the 18th-19th century, formerly in the
C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love Collection, sold at Christie’s New York,
20 October 2004, lot 315.

It is also interesting to compare the similarity between the painted and
gilt dragons on the exterior rails of the present throne with those found
on an Imperial throne in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, illustrated
by R. Jacobsen and N. Grindley, Classical Chinese Furniture in the
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, 1999, no. 20.

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