Page 18 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

fig. 1
Illustration in Jin ping mei [The plum in
the golden vase, or the golden lotus],
Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period edition,
chapter 7
圖一
明崇禎本《金瓶梅》，第七回插圖

Long and narrow rectangular tables with upturned flanges 翹頭案長而不寬，兩端翹起，明清時素為名門望戶所
were popular in wealthy households of the Ming (1368- 愛。此案檔板雕飾巧緻，面板木紋雋美，尤為出眾。
1644) and Qing dynasties. The present example is however 翹頭案常設客廳，倚南牆，可陳置奇石、時花、古玩
particularly special for delicately carved panels between the
legs, and the attractive grain pattern of the huanghuali boards 等，於主人會客時平添清雅。桌案檔板作如意雲頭
set into the top frame. Placed against the south wall of the 者，於當時圖書、繪畫屢見不鮮，如崇禎年本《金瓶
reception hall, where important male visitors were greeted, 梅》第七回（圖一），配圖亦見 Sarah Handler，〈Side
they were used for the display of a few tasteful objects, such Tables, a Surface for Treasures and the Gods〉，《Chinese
as fantastic rocks, seasonal flowers or a treasured antique. Furniture. Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-1999》，
Tables of this type with the panels between the legs carved 香港，1999年，頁202，圖版6。
with ruyi heads appear often on contemporary printed books
and paintings, such as in the illustration of Chapter 7 of a
Chongzhen period edition of Jin Ping Mei [The Plum in the 前述出處，頁200-201，就此類長案源起於何有所討
Golden Vase], reproduced in Sarah Handler, ‘Side Tables, 論，論者稱其演變自供桌，可溯至東周。翹頭長案飾
a Surface for Treasures and the Gods’, Chinese Furniture. 於青銅器上，可見一匜，前述出處，頁200。明代，
Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-1999, Hong Kong, 長案已成風尚，然明代以前，翹頭曾一度消失。翹頭
1999, p. 202, pl. 6.
者，既頌華夏之往昔，又增桌案之氣宇。
The origins of this type of rectangular table are discussed
in ibid., pp 200-201, where the author suggests that the 可比一案，構造與現例相仿，E. Boltze 蓄，載於古斯
design derives from altar tables made from as early as the
Eastern Zhou dynasty (771-256 BC). These early tables with 塔夫・艾克，《中國花梨家具圖考》，拉特蘭，1962
upturned ends are depicted on archaic bronzes from this 年，圖版65。另一例更大，可拆裝，傳為明代，同飾
period, such as a bronze yi illustrated ibid., p. 200. The use 如意雲頭，北京故宮博物院藏，錄於《故宮博物院藏
of upturned flanges, however, appears to have disappeared 文物珍品全集・明清家具（上）》，香港，2002年，
prior to the Ming period, when these long rectangular tables 圖版124。
gained popularity. The flanges served as a reference to China’s
illustrious past, which also increases the table commanding
presence within the room.
A table of similar proportions from the collection of E. Boltze,
is illustrated in Gustav Ecke, Chinese Domestic Furniture,
Rutland, 1962, pl. 65. See also a much larger demountable
table attributed to the Ming dynasty, with a similar ruyi-head
pattern, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The
Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum.
Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I), Hong Kong, 2002,
pl. 124.