Page 110 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

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PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION 明代木匠善於結構處賦巧思，所造桌案雖用料簡省， This elegant pair of tables exemplifies the ingenuity of Ming meals, against the side walls of reception halls where flowers
A PAIR OF HUANGHUALI RECTANGULAR 然承重無虞。此類桌案清雅素淨，乃作四面平式，腿 carpenters, who developed sophisticated joinery techniques to or other tasteful objects were displayed, as well as for formal
CORNER-LEG TABLES, TIAOZHUO 足與桌面對齊，又接角牙以加固。該設計始於宋、興 create tables that could support heavy loads with the minimum dining. In such occasions, they were generally fitted with textile
use of material. The restrained elegance of these tables is
frontals, as in a Ming dynasty woodblock illustration of the
MING DYNASTY, EARLY 17TH CENTURY 於明。 achieved through their simianping, or ‘four corner’s flush’, drama Fen Xiang ji [A record of burning incense], illustrated in
each of simianping, ‘four sides flush’ form, the top panel set construction where the legs are set flush to the table top, and Craig Clunas, Chinese Furniture, London, 1988, fig. 34.
within a rectangular frame above a plain beaded apron, all 四面平式窄長條桌用途甚廣，乃明代千家萬戶之選。 joined by carved spandrels that add stability and strength. This A table of very similar design, was sold in our New York rooms,
raised on four straight legs of square section, beaded along 考木刻版畫可知，此類條桌用法多樣，可應不同場合 design, which first emerged in the Song dynasty (960-1279), 25th April 1987, lot 527; and a lute table with scroll-shaped
the inside edge ending in hoof feet, joined to the apron at each 需求。常置臥房之內，作書案或餐几，或倚客廳側 was considered one of the most attractive furniture designs in spandrels, illustrated in Wang Shixiang, Classic Chinese
corner by ruyi-shaped scrollwork spandrels 牆，陳花木或珍玩，亦可設宴，供賓主遞酒布菜。條 the Ming period. Furniture. Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, London, 1986, pl. 188.
120.5 by 62.7 by h. 87.2 cm, 47½ by 24¾ by h. 34¼ in. 桌常罩台布，見明傳奇《焚香記》明代木刻本插圖， Narrow rectangular tables with legs at the four corners (zhuo) A waistless table of similar proportions, from the collection of
載於柯律格，《中國家具》，倫敦，1988年，圖34。 were some of the most versatile types of furniture, ubiquitous Mr and Mrs P. Piccus, was sold at Christie’s New York, 18th
PROVENANCE in every Ming households. Woodblock printed illustrations September 1997, lot 17, and again, 21st September 2000, lot
Peter Lai Antiques, Hong Kong, 10th April 1990. depicts them being used in numerous different ways, 35; and one fashioned from zitan wood, illustrated in Grace
一桌與此對頗似，售於紐約蘇富比1987年4月25日，編 according to different needs and contexts. They are commonly Wu Bruce, Ming Furniture, Hong Kong, 1995, pl. 3, was sold at
◉ HK$ 2,000,000-3,000,000 號527；及一琴桌，亦帶如意角牙，錄於王世襄，《明 depicted in bedrooms and used as writing desks or for informal Christie’s Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2040.
US$ 258,000-387,000 式家具珍賞》，倫敦，1986年，圖版188。再比一桌，
無束腰，構造佈局與現例相近，畢格史伉儷舊藏，曾
明十七世紀初 先後售於紐約佳士得1997年9月18日，編號17，及2000
黃花梨如意角牙馬蹄足四平條桌成對 年9月21日，編號35；另一例，紫檀造，錄於伍嘉恩，
《明式家具》，香港，1995年，圖版3，售於香港佳士
來源： 得2012年11月28日，編號2040。
黎氏古玩，香港，1990年4月10日