Page 145 - 2019 September 13th Christie's New York Important Chinese Works of Art

The present set of four chairs displays an unparalleled grace
and fnesse seen only in the fnest furniture dated to the Ming
dynasty. This magnifcent set is distinguished by several features:
the distinctive high curve of the crestrails, the pronounced and
elegantly carved ruyi on the gracefully curved backsplat, and
the use of the fnest quality huanghuali available. The design of
the present set of chairs deviates from the standard design of
horseshoe-back armchairs. The proportions of the arc of the
crestrails are slender and the absence of side posts enhance the
dramatic downward sweep of the arms, focus is placed on the
elegant movement of the arms. As the design of the arms are
distinctive, so is the design under the seat. The use of humpback
stretchers and vertical struts, instead of the more commonly
seen plain, beaded aprons and spandrels, creates an efect of
lengthening the leg and a lightness that belies the size of the chair.
To fnd a true set of four chairs is very rare. Fine chairs were
prized for their beauty and their materials, thus complete sets
are rarely preserved. It was common for sets of four, or eight
chairs, to be divided into singles or pairs. Only a few prominent
sets are known, most notably the exquisite set of four horseshoe-
back armchairs from the Robert H. Ellsworth Collection, sold
at Christie’s New York, 17 March 2015, lot 41, which realized a
record-breaking price of $9,685,000. The unusual design, fne
quality of the workmanship, and the luxurious use of huanghuali
suggest that this set is a true set of four which were made at the
same workshop.
Another feature to note on the present set of four are the graceful
crestrails carved with subtly curved and shortened hooks.
This feature compares closely with a Ming-dynasty example
constructed in zhazhenmu from the Weiyang region illustrated
in Zhang Jinhua, The Classical Chinese Furniture of Weiyang:
Representative Examples, vol, 2, London, 2016, pp. 60-63,
suggesting this set may also be from the same region.

此套圈椅清雅絶塵，瑰麗大方，展現明代家具登峰造極之藝術
水平。月牙扶手線條遒勁，靠背板姿態優美，如意紋飾端莊雅
緻，頂級黃花梨木美不勝收。此椅形制為傳統圈椅規格之巧妙
變奏。月牙扶手弧度尤深，纖巧俐落，不添聯幫棍，布局疏朗，
末端斜收，饒富動感。圈椅上下部皆不落俗套，卓爾非凡。同類
例子多飾素直或卷口牙子，本椅則用羅鍋棖加矮老，營造清新
空靈之感，令椅腿更顯修長。

椅子四張成堂洵屬可貴。凡頂尖座具必講求造型及用料兼勝，
舉世傑作得以成套保藏，更是異常難得。一套四椅，或一套八
椅，在留存期間常分折成單件或雙對。傳世一套四張成堂圈椅
寥寥可數，著名例子有安思遠舊藏一套四張圈椅， 2015年3月
17日於紐約佳士得拍賣，拍品41號，創下當時成交價紀錄美元
$9,685,000。 本套圈椅形制獨特，工藝精湛，用材貴重，不僅反映
四椅一套連造，更可推斷乃同一匠坊所為。

本套圈椅的另一特色在於月牙扶手，兩端僅輕輕外撇，出頭略
短。此形象可參考一明代維揚地區製柞榛木椅，收錄於張金華
著《維揚明式家具》，卷二，倫敦，2016年，頁60-63，本品擬出
自該地。

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