Page 86 - SOtheby's Hong Kong Fine Chinese Art May 2018

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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AUSTRALIAN COLLECTION 十七世紀 黃花梨鑲癭木平頭案
A HUANGHUALI AND BURLWOOD 來源：
RECESSED-LEG TABLE, PINGTOUAN
傳 Lionel Phillips（1924-91年）收藏，澳洲
17TH CENTURY
Ansett Wridgways，坎培拉，1991年5月18日
with a single flush floating panel of well-figured burlwood
set within a mitered frame of standard construction, above
plain straight aprons with rounded spandrels, the recessed
legs of circular section secured by parallel cross-braces of
oval section, the underside with three supporting transverse
stretchers
78 by 106 by 48 cm, 30¾ by 41¾ by 18⅞ in.
PROVENANCE
Collection of Lionel Phillips (1924-91), Australia, by repute.
Ansett Wridgways, Canberra, 18th May 1991.
HK$ 800,000-1,200,000
US$ 102,000-153,000

Lionel Phillips (1924-91) was an Australian diplomat in China 此類條案造型極簡，屬中式家具功用最豐、受眾最廣之制
from the mid 1940s to early 1950s. He was attached to the 式，歷代風靡，經久不絕。因形似漢字「一」之孑然一
Australian Legation in Chongqing from 1943, which later
筆，此式素稱「一字首式」，脫胎自漢代以降之木造結
relocated to Nanjing in 1946. Phillips moved to Beijing in 1949
構。其形清雅素淨，便於挪移，常作供案、書台及半桌等
and remained there until around 1952. During his time in China,
Phillips became acquainted with various government officials 用，明清兩朝有刊印可考。
and diplomats, including Zhou Enlai. The current lot was
brought to back to Australia with him in 1952.
此條案巧用兩種木材，別具雅趣。案面癭木色澤沉厚，與

Tables of this minimalist form represent one of the most 框、腿、腰及牙頭之琥珀色黃花梨相映成趣。黃花梨桌案
versatile and popular designs in Chinese furniture, as 案面鑲以各式木材乃明清常制，如鑲烏木者，可比清宮舊
evident in their constant popularity through the generations. 藏一例，現仍貯北京，載於《故宮博物院藏明清宮廷家具
Historically referred to as ‘character one’ table (yi zi shou 大觀》，北京，2007年，卷1，圖版284；另比一例，案
shi), as the single horizontal stroke of the Chinese character
for the numeral ‘one’ bears resemblance to this linear form, 面鑲以樺木，見展覽圖錄《攻玉山房藏明式黃花梨家具：
楮檀室夢旅》，香港中文大學文物館，香港，1991年，編
this design appears to have derived from standard wood
building construction in use since the Han dynasty. Their light 號22，後售於香港蘇富比2015年10月7日，編號130。
and simple form meant they could be easily moved from one
location to another, as revealed in Ming and Qing prints where
相類桌案大小不一，此案為較小者中之典範，靈巧可攜，
they are depicted used as altar, painting and also side tables.
極為便宜。制式雷同、尺寸相當者可比一例，錄於王世

The piece is particularly attractive for its clever use of two 襄，《明式家具珍賞》，香港，1990年，圖版B81；另一
different types of wood. The darker burls of the top create an 例，原為 La Rue Robbins Lutkins 雅蓄，售於紐約蘇富比
attractive contrast to the honey-coloured huanghuali of the
2012年3月20日，編號123。
frame, legs, waist and spandrels. A common practice in the
Ming and Qing dynasties, huanghuali tables of this form are
known inset with table tops of various types of woods, such
as one with an ebony top, from the Qing Court collection and
still in Beijing, illustrated in A Treasury of Ming & Qing Dynasty
Palace Furniture, Beijing, 2007, vol. 1, pl. 284; another with
a huamu top, included in the exhibition Dreams of Chu Tan
Chamber and the Romance with Huanghuali Wood: The Dr.
S.Y. Yip Collection of Classical Chinese Furniture, Art Museum,
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1991, cat. no. 22,
and sold in these rooms, 7th October 2015, lot 130.

Tables of this type were produced in varying sizes, the present
example exemplifying a type of smaller dimensions, readily
portable and extremely useful. A table of this design and
similar size is illustrated in Wang Shixiang, Connoisseurship of
Chinese Furniture, Hong Kong, 1990, pl. B81; another from the
collection of La Rue Robbins Lutkins was sold in our New York Detail
rooms, 20th March 2012, lot 123.

84 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比