Page 23 - Classical Chinese Furniture from Heveningham Hall may 28 2021 hk.pdf

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A VERY RARE HUANGHUALI ROUND- The distinctive figuration on the four broad, single panels indicates that
they were cut from the same piece of timber. Of special note on the
CORNER TAPERED CABINET AND present cabinet is the original wood stand. The function of the wood
STAND, YUANJIAOGUI stand is to raise and protect the furniture from having direct contact
with the damp floor, which may have been used exclusively in the
LATE MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY southern region of China with relatively high humidity. It is extremely
The cabinet is well-proportioned and constructed with a rounded, rare to find cabinets retaining the original wood stand because this type
of structure has been difficult to preserve as damage from moisture
protruding, double-cushion moulded top supported on slightly would be expected. In addition to the rarity, the easily damaged stand is
splayed corner posts of lobed-section. The well-figured matched also constructed in huanghuali, showing off the extravagance of wealth
single panel doors are contained within double moulded frames and to the most refined but subtle detail.
fitted with shaped lockplates and pulls, open to reveal a single shelf
of two drawers, all above plain narrow aprons. The matching stand The present cabinet stands out as a truly exquisite example of its type.
with double-moulded edge is supported on legs of similar lobed- The gentle splay in its design lends a sense of stability and balance to
the form while retaining a very graceful and pleasing profile. Although
section, the wood of a rich caramel tone. the form of the present example was widely used in cabinet making
The cabinet: 50 ½ in. (128.3 cm.) high, 31 ¼ in. (79.3 cm.) wide, throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, very few examples with
16 ¾ in. (42.6 cm.) deep; original stands remain.
the stand: 20 ½ in. (52 cm.) high, 31 ¼ in. (79.3 cm.) wide,
16 ¾ in. (42.6 cm.) deep See a pair with similar lobed form members, exhibited and illustrated in
Splendor of Style: Classical Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
HK$2,500,000-3,500,000 US$330,000-450,000 National Museum of History, Taipei, 1999, p. 160-161. Another comparable
pair previously in the Dr. S. Y. Yip collection (fig. 1) was sold at Christie’s
Hong Kong, 30 November 2020, lot 2810, for HK$18,250,000.
PROVENANCE
Christie’s New York, 21 September 2000, lot 25
The Heveningham Hall Collection

晚明 黃花梨花稜腿圓角櫃連原底座
來源
紐約佳士得，2000 年 9 月 21 日，拍品編號 25
赫維寧漢莊園珍藏
圓角櫃採用雙混面夾陽線線腳，形成花棱腿造型，頗為富麗。其櫃門、
側山四塊心板木紋相近，顯為一板開出，紋路細密流暢，美觀大方。櫃
內抽屜所裝銅飾件的吊牌做成蟾形，富有生機。蟾在中國有財富豐盈、
子孫眾多之寓意。櫃背尚有原裝紅色厚漆，斑駁滄桑。
本拍品最特別之處在於其原底座。底座的功能為承托及保護家具免於直
接接觸濕潤的泥地，極有可能用於濕度相對較高的南方地區。底座的保
存狀態非常困難，無論任何種類的存世原底座都異常稀少。此外，本拍
品的底座木板皆為黃花梨木，於極有可能消耗的底座上亦如此豪華大
方，沒有偷工減料，足以證明原主人雄厚的財力，高尚的品味，低調的
奢華。
圓角櫃結構雖是明清通用的式樣，但帶原底座例稀少。一對同為花棱
腿造型，曾展於國立歷史博物館，收錄於《風華再現：明清家具收藏
展》，臺北，1999 年，頁 160-161。另一對近似例為攻玉山房舊藏（圖
一），拍賣於香港佳士得，2020 年 11 月 30 日，拍品編號 2810，成交價
$18,250,000。

fig. 1
圖一

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