Page 241 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

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PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION 此案結構雋朗，紋飾清秀，作卷葉紋牙頭、雙鳳紋棖 This elegant and perfectly proportioned table is striking for the most significant piece of furniture in the scholar’s studio.
A LARGE HUANGHUALI TIELIMU-INSET 子及冰盤沿線腳，皆證十七世紀中國木匠之鬼斧神 its exquisitely carved design. From the curling leaves on the Their height was carefully calibrated to allow a scholar or artist
PAINTING TABLE, PINGTOUAN 工。 spandrels, the confronting phoenix between the legs and the to stand and freely move his brush, and they were generally
MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY beaded edges, this table testifies to the exceptional skill of devoid of drawers or stretchers on the long sides, which would
平頭案素來無飾，如同場編號64。案上雕紋者，殊為 Chinese woodcarvers and cabinet-makers in the 17th century. have made them uncomfortable when seating on a chair. The
the rectangular framed top of mitre, mortise and tennoned 罕有，乃無類例見載，比一畫案，尺寸稍小，牙頭作 The elaborately carved surfaces make this table particularly wood from which they were fashioned was of great importance
construction inset with a tielimu panel forming a flush surface, rare, as tables of this form are generally undecorated, such for scholars, who sought strength and beautiful grain patterns.
above plain aprons and foliate-form spandrels, continuing to 鳳紋，腿足間安透雕雙鳳寬牙子，攻玉山房舊藏，售 as lot 64 offered in this sale. While no closely related example The clever combination of the golden-hued huanghuali
beaded legs of rectangular section, joined on the shorter sides 於香港蘇富比2015年10月7日，編號125。精雕牙頭而 appears to have been published, this piece shares similarities and darker tielimu for the table top of this piece creates an
by two openwork panels carved with a pair of confronting 簡作棖子者，可比數例：一例，售於紐約蘇富比2013 with a smaller painting table with phoenix spandrels and the attractive contrast that would be particularly desirable.
stylised phoenix 年9月17/18日，編號210；紐約佳士得亦售兩例，其 stretchers carved as confronting chilong, from the collection Tables with legs not at the corners but recessed represent
266 by 67.5 by h. 81.5 cm, 104¾ by 26½ by h. 32 in.
一，畢格史伉儷舊藏，1997年9月18日，編號15，其 of S.Y. Yip, sold in these rooms, 7th October 2015, lot 125. a classic and highly recognisable Ming dynasty design. They
PROVENANCE 二，Gangolf Geis 舊藏，2003年9月18日，編號39。 Examples of tables with elaborately carved spandrels, but plain have historically been referred to as ‘character one’ tables, as
stretchers are known: see one sold in our New York rooms, the Chinese character for the word ‘one’ is written as a single
Christie’s Hong Kong, 31st October 1994, lot 418. 17th/18th September 2013, lot 210; and two sold at Christie’s horizontal stroke, giving a graphic image of their form. Inspired
長寬比例分明，可供讀寫，既實用，又美觀，為文 New York, the first from the collection of Mr and Mrs Robert P. by classical Chinese wood buildings, this design was very
人雅士書齋必備。高矮恰到好處，案前墨客可揮筆 Piccus, 18th September 1997, lot 15, and the second from the popular from the Song dynasty (960-1279) onwards, often
◉ HK$ 3,000,000-5,000,000 自如，且不設抽屜，長邊無棖，以免坐椅之人使用不 Gangolf Geis collection, 18th September 2003, lot 39.
US$ 387,000-645,000 appearing on woodblock printed books and paintings. One of
便。所用木料亦頗多講究，以木質堅韌、肌理秀美為 Tables of such prominent length and depth were used in the most enduring and successful designs in classical Chinese
上。黃花梨色澤金黃，鐵梨木色澤沈穩，桌面合二為 the study as modern desks. They were designed to be both furniture, the spare minimalist lines of these tables have a
一，相得益彰。 functional and aesthetically pleasing, and were considered timeless elegance.
明十七世紀 黃花梨嵌鐵梨木夾頭榫平頭案
腿足縮進，不連桌角，乃明代經典式樣，因形似漢字
來源：
「一」之孑然一筆，素稱「一字首式」。此式脫胎於
香港佳士得1994年10月31日，編號418
傳統木造建築，自宋以來頻頻見諸刊本、繪畫，線條
簡潔大方，堪稱中式家具不朽之範。