Page 154 - Christies March 16, 2017 The Varata Collection NYC

Small, light, and delicate, the present table is constructed from the fnest zitan. A 此桌玲瓏輕巧、婉約妍秀、用料上乘，以最為優等之紫檀木材所製。北京頤和園
slightly smaller example is found in the Summer Palace, Beijing, illustrated by Wang 藏有一例，體型較小，見王世襄，《明清家具珍賞》，1986年，149及284頁，
Shixiang, Classic Chinese Furniture - Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, Chicago, 1986, 編號95 (圖1)。王氏認為該桌之壺門式牙條設計，與晚明時期圈椅及靠背椅之券
p. 149 and 284, no. 95 (fg. 1). In his discussion of this table, Wang Shixiang relates 口牙子相關。惟該桌之一根牙條兩側為圓形腿足，不能交圈，故無法形成完整的
the apron design to the cusped aprons on both horseshoe and yokeback armchairs 壺門輪廓，取而代之，是更疏朗開闊、超逸空靈之造型。研賞牙條之設計風格，
of the late Ming period, however, the lack of elongated spandrels on the table, as 觀櫃架更能洞察其相通之處。王氏於同書列舉之天津市文物商店藏明代黄花梨大
would be seen on a chair, results in an overall more open and lighter design. When 方角櫃，其牙條之制式與本桌甚為相似，見前揭書，220―221頁，編號147。
examining apron designs, even stronger comparisons can be made to those found 該櫃之牙條鎪壺門輪廓，線條流麗圓融，邊緣起燈草線，如同此桌，王氏認為此
on cabinets. Wang Shixiang discusses a huanghuali square-corner cabinet, then 乃明代作品之特徵。
in the collection of Tianjin Cultural Relics Store, that exhibits a very similar apron
design, see op cit. pp. 220-221, no. 147, and dated to the Ming dynasty. He argues 一私人珍藏清初紫檀條桌與上述頤和園藏之例尺寸相約，見伍嘉恩〈經典中國
that the graceful curved lines and strong beaded edge of the apron, also seen in the 紫檀家具〉(Classic Chinese Furniture in Tsu-t’an Wood)，《亞洲藝術》
present table, are attributes found in the Ming dynasty. (Arts of Asia)，1991年11-12月，138―148頁，圖版編號17。另有一例藏於北
京故宮博物館，其牙條雕飾更為豐富，兩端透雕卷草紋，見胡德生《故宮博物院
Another table in the Beiyuzhai collection, with almost identical measurements to the 藏明清宮廷家具大觀》，2007年，圖版編號196，胡氏稱其「…波曲的壺門牙綫
table in the Summer Palace, and dated to the early Qing dynasty, is illustrated and 條為方直的整體增添了動感。」
discussed by Grace Wu Bruce in ‘Classic Chinese Furniture in Tzu-t’an Wood’, Arts
of Asia, November – December 1991, pp. 138-148, fg 17. See, also, another related
example with slightly more elaborately carved apron and with pierced leaf scrolls
to each end in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by Hu Desheng, The Palace
Museum Collection: A Treasury of Ming and Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture, Beijing,
2007, fg. 196, where he describes the design as “the minimalistic form is enhanced
by the lyrical curvilinear shape of the aprons”.

Fig. 1. Wang Shixiang and a narrow zitan table from the Summer Palace.
Photograph courtesy of Cultural Relics Press.
（圖1）王世襄與一張源自頤和園之紫檀條桌
圖片提供：文物出版社

152 THE MARIE THERESA L. V I R ATA C O L L E C T I O N OF ASIAN ART: A FAMILY LEGACY