Page 155 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

72 Daybeds, ta, are among the oldest type of furniture made in 榻，乃中式家具古老款樣之一，自兩漢已風靡，供貴
China. Popular since the Han dynasty, when they elevated 冑睡臥，及至明代，除常置臥室，亦可入書房。涼榻
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION 明十六至十七世紀 黃花梨裹腿做矮老涼榻 high-ranking individuals, by the Ming period these raised 雖多為一人用，然現例尺寸寬綽，可臥二人，起居皆
A HUANGHUALI DAYBED, TA rectangular platforms were used both in scholar’s studios and 宜。
MING DYNASTY, 16TH – 17TH CENTURY 來源： in sleeping quarters. More commonly made to accommodate
Gangolf Geis 收藏 only one person, the impressive proportions of the present
the top of standard mitred construction framing a soft mat 紐約佳士得2003年9月18日，編號20 example would have made it an ideal double-bed at night and a 此榻部件圓實，裹腿棖四面交圈，乃仿竹製家具。長
surface, sturdily resting atop four cylindrical corner legs practical living platform during the day. 久以來，竹製家具受人喜愛，因竹之挺拔氣節素為文
partially concealed by the edge of the frame and stretcher The rounded members of this daybed and its stretchers, which 人所仰，且竹柔韌圓活，宜造輕便之物。明代工匠取
beneath, the frame with a wide double-reeded edge simulating encircle the legs and create a double-moulded design, imitate 名貴木材傾力打磨，活現竹之靈秀。
bamboo and joint to the high humpback stretcher by twelve bamboo furniture construction. Bamboo had long proved a
evenly spaced short vertical struts popular furniture medium: not only was this wood traditionally
212 by 108.5 by h. 50 cm, 83½ by 42¾ by h. 19⅝ in. associated with virtuous qualities in a scholar, its flexibility 榻大如斯已不多見，仿竹製者更罕。可比一例，構
and natural roundness allowed craftsmen to create furniture 造相似，然僅容一人臥，帶雙環矮老，檀香山藝術
PROVENANCE 博物館藏，曾展於該館《Chinese Hardwood Furniture in
that was comfortable, light and attractive. Ming dynasty
The Gangolf Geis Collection. cabinet-makers recreated these qualities in precious hardwood Hawaiian Collections》，檀香山，1981年，編號12；另
Christie’s New York, 18th September 2003, lot 20. through a laborious process of carving and lathing. 一例，售於香港佳士得2012年5月30日，編號4077。
Daybeds of such large dimensions are unusual, and those 亦參考一白描例，見王世襄，《明式家具研究》，香
◉ HK$ 1,800,000-2,200,000 carved to simulate bamboo are seldom known. A ta of this 港，1990年，卷II，圖版C1。
US$ 232,000-284,000 design, but conceived as a single bed, and with double-ring
struts, in the Honolulu Academy of Arts, was included in the
Museum’s exhibition Chinese Hardwood Furniture in Hawaiian
Collections, Honolulu, 1981, cat. no. 12; and another was sold
at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th May 2012, lot 4077. See also
a line drawing of a daybed of this design, illustrated in Wang
Shixiang, Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture. Ming and Qing
Dynasties, Hong Kong, 1990, vol. 2, pl. C1.