Page 28 - 2020 Nov 30 Christie's Hong Kong Scholars Art Of China

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The distinctive figuration on the four broad, single panels indicates that 此對圓角櫃的四扇獨板門皆取自同一木料，而木紋更是對稱相抵，側門
they were cut from the same piece of timber. The panels are fitted with 板亦為獨板，足見選材之嚴謹，匠人獨具匠心之處。
the grain set at opposing mirror image, thus giving a sense of drama
and motion to the cabinets. The careful matching of the doors suggests 本拍品最特別之處在於其原底座。底座的功能為承托及保護家具免於直
that the cabinet-maker intentionally designed the cabinets to feature 接接觸濕潤的泥地，極有可能用於濕度相對較高的南方地區。底座的保
the natural markings of the wood and had remarkable sensitivity with
materials. 存狀態非常困難，無論任何種類的存世原底座都異常稀少。此外，本拍
品的底座木板皆為獨板黃花梨木，於極有可能消耗的底座上亦如此豪華
Of special note on the present cabinets is the original wood stands. The 大方，沒有偷工減料，足以證明原主人雄厚的財力，高尚的品味，低調
function of the wood stand is to raise and protect the furniture from
having direct contact with the damp floor, which may have been used 的奢華。
exclusively in the southern region of China with relatively high humidity.
It is extremely rare to find cabinets retaining the original wood stand 此對圓角櫃充份展現明代家具的簡練沉穆，得以成對流傳，實為罕見。
because this type of structure has been difficult to preserve as damage 其通體光素，櫃形上窄下寬，比例勻稱，線條流暢。底座上起線優雅的
from moisture would be expected. In addition to the rarity, the planks 如意雲頭牙為典型的明代家具風格，同樣裝飾牙板亦見於北京故宮博物
on the likely damaged stands are also constructed in single panel 院藏定年明代的黃花梨方桌（圖一），著錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品
huanghuali, showing off the extravagance of wealth to the most refined 大系－明清家具（上）》，香港，2002 年，頁 85，編號 69。圓角櫃結
but subtle detail.
構雖是明清通用的式樣，但目前僅見另外一稍矮例子帶原底座，曾展於
The present pair of cabinets stands out as a truly exquisite example 國立歷史博物館，收錄於《風華再現：明清家具收藏展》，台北， 1999 年，
of its type, all the rarer for being a pair. The gentle splay in its design 頁 160-161。
lends a sense of stability and balance to the form while retaining a very
graceful and pleasing profile. The simple but elegant form of these
cabinets is the classic Ming style, characterised by the finely carved
ruyi-form apron on the stands which is a typical design of the period.
Such detail is also seen on the apron of a huanghuali square table
dated to Ming dynasty (fig. 1) in the Beijing Palace Museum collection,
illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
Museum, Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong,
2002, p. 85, no. 69. Although the form of the present example was
widely used in cabinet making throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties,
only one published example of slightly lower height has retained its
original stands, which is exhibited and illustrated in Splendor of Style:
Classical Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, National Museum
of History, Taipei, 1999, p. 160-161.

fig. 1 Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing
圖一 北京故宮博物院藏品

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