Page 116 - Bonhams Cornette Saint Cyr, Property from the estate of Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021)

Tables with a stone top such as the present lot were particularly useful See also another related huanghuali table of similar form, but without
when playing the guqin – a seven stringed zither – with sound boxes a stone top, circa 1550-1650, illustrated by C.Clunas, Chinese
underneath. The stone surface allowed the sounds to bounce off and Furniture, London, 1997, p.49. The author notes that according to
reverberate more loudly. The inscription at the right corner of the stone the Classic of Lu Ban, this is a xiao qin zhuo shi, ‘small qin table
top highlights its dual use of supporting the musical instrument as well type’. That the present table is also inscribed with a poem, perhaps
as for reading. Following is the inscription: signifies its importance to literati gatherings where the qin was played,
poetry recited, paintings and calligraphy written and exchanged. It is
質賦衡峰，貞似玉溫，而理瑩，而穆二，奏虞弦，熏風處，續人對， more likely that such a table with a poetic inscription and imbued with
明光佇，瞻補牘，朝文 cultural capital would be more suitable for playing the qin, one of the
Four Arts of the Scholar along with qi (chess), shu (calligraphy), and
Which may be translated as: hua (painting).

Its quality is harder than Hengshan mountain, See a huanghuali incense table with stone top, inscribed with various
The texture as smooth and gentle as jade. collectors seals, Ming dynasty, including that of Xiang Yuanbian, which
Playing qin solemnly on the lustrous marble top, was sold at Poly Beijing, on 28 July 2022, lot 5563.
And feeling the gentle breeze.
Reading under the bright light,
Dedicated to the Court: duty, loyalty and diligence.
Seal: Zhao Wen (朝文)
As the poetic inscription suggests, the present table would have been
suitable for playing the qin, or for reading, aiding in study and serving
the Court. A very similar table of more narrow form and without stone
top, late 16th/early 17th century, is illustrated by Grace Wu Bruce,
Living with Ming: the Lu Ming Shi Collection, Paris, 2000, p.110,
no.23. The author notes on that tables with stone tops are quite rare,
‘presumably because they break and perish at a higher rate compared
to their wooden counterparts’, see ibid., p.12.

114 | BONHAMS