A VERY FINE AND RARE HUANGHUALI YOKEBACK ARMCHAIR, GUANMAOYI
17th centuryWith a well-carved protruding crestrail supported on a broad S-shaped splat and curved rear posts continuing to form the rear legs, the curved arms supported on tapering stiles and curved front posts continuing through the seat frame to form the front legs, the seat frame enclosing a soft-mat seat above a shaped apron and spandrels, the legs joined by stepped stretchers on the sides and a footrest on the front. 115cm (45 2/8in) high x 59cm (23 2/8in) wide x 44cm (17 3/8in) deep.
注脚
十七世紀 黃花梨四出頭彎材官帽椅Provenance: Grace Wu Bruce, Hong Kong Sotheby's London, 13 May 2015, lot 115An important European private collection來源:香港古董商嘉木堂倫敦蘇富比,2015年5月13日,拍品編號115歐洲重要私人收藏Huanghuali yokeback armchairs such as the present example convey timeless elegance through the simplicity and balance of their lines which represents spare but opulent aesthetic of the Ming elite. They are distinguished by their large size, the generous sweep of the crestrail, well-shaped terminals and elegantly-curved front and back posts. The remarkable level of carpentry of this chair is also visible in the plain S-shaped back splat, which is carved from the same piece of wood and tongue-and-grooved into the underside of the top rail and tenoned to the back member of the seat frame. In addition, only four pieces of wood were used for the four verticals of the front legs and front arm-posts, back legs and back posts, with each vertical passing through the frame of the seat. Referring to the winged hat of the formal attire worn by Ming officials, the term guanmaoyi conveyed status and authority associated with the highest-ranking classes in China. Prior to the Ming dynasty, yokeback armchairs served as seats for Imperial family members and deities. Gaozong's empress (Gaozong r. 1127-1162), for example, is depicted gracefully seated on a yokeback armchair in one of a series of portraits of Song dynasty Imperial figures in the National Palace Museum, Taipei; see S.Handler, Austere Luminosity of Classical Chinese Furniture, London, 2001, p.46, fig.4.4.Illustrations included in literary sources of the Ming and Qing dynasties frequently show armchairs like the present example next to large tables in sumptuous reception halls, and beside writing tables in a scholar's studio. See, for example, a woodblock print in the 1616 edition of the 'Golden Lotus' Jin Ping Mei, depicting the main male character and his principal wife seated on a guanmaoyi chair while dining with his secondary wives and concubines seated on stools, illustrated by C.Clunas, 'The Novel Jin Ping Mei as a Source for the Study of Ming Furniture, in Chinese Furniture: Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-2003, Hong Kong, 2004, p.118, fig.8. For a general discussion about the basic model and decorative vocabulary of guanmaoyi armchairs, see C.Evarts, 'From Ornate to Unadorned', Journal of the Chinese Classical Furniture Society, Spring, 1993, pp.24-33.Compare with a nearly-identical huanghuali yokeback armchair, late 16th-early 17th century, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, illustrated by N.Berliner, 'When Vernacular Meets Fine: Thoughts on Chinese Furniture Studies', Chinese Furniture: Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-1999, Hong Kong, 1999, pp.215, fig.11. A similar huanghuali yokeback chair, 17th century, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 20 March 2012, lot 127.主體以圓材製作,素面三彎靠背板嵌入搭腦下方與椅盤後大邊槽口,後腿上截穿過椅盤作肩出榫納入彎弧搭腦,三彎弧形的扶手同樣作肩出榫接合後腿上截,前方接前腿鵝脖,穿過椅盤成前腿足,中間支以三彎形上細下大的圓材聯幫棍。椅盤為格角榫攢邊框,抹頭見透榫,邊抹冰盤沿上舒下斂底壓窄邊線,四框內緣踩邊打眼造軟屜。座面下安券口牙子,沿邊起線,上方齊頭碰椅盤下面,二側嵌入腿足,底端出榫納入踏腳棖。左右兩面安相似券口牙子,後方為短牙子。腿間施步步高趕棖,踏腳棖及左右兩側管腳棖下各安一素牙子。官帽椅,顧名思義,是由於像古代官吏所戴的帽子而得名。四出頭官帽椅,以其簡潔的結構和協調的造型傳達出驚人的現代性,體現了明代文人逸士古雅雋永的美學追求。有別於更為常見的直材四出頭官帽椅,本拍品構件纖細,但彎曲程度大,製作時需用大料搜挖,以實現「柔婉」的效果,為堅硬的木材賦予了彈性之美。官帽椅歷史上常與中國統治階層的崇高地位息息相關。明代以前,官帽椅多用作皇室貴冑之坐具。台北國立故宮博物院館藏一件宋高宗後坐像,描繪了高宗皇后端坐於一件形似官帽椅的寶座之上,見S.Handler著,《Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture》,伯克利,2001年,頁46,圖4.4。至明清時,形如本例的扶手椅常見於文學作品的插圖中。1616年刊印的《金瓶梅》版畫中,就有西門慶與正室坐官帽椅用膳,而妾侍坐於凳上的場景,參見柯律格著,〈The Novel Jin Ping Mei as a Source for the Study of Ming Furniture〉,收錄於《Chinese Furniture: Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-2003》,香港,2004年,頁118,圖8。有關官帽椅的基本類型,可參柯惕思著,〈From Ornate to Unadorned〉,收錄於《Journal of the Chinese Classical Furniture Society》春季刊,1993年,頁24-33。參考波士頓美術館藏一件近乎相同的十六世紀晚期至十七世紀早期黃花梨四出頭官帽椅,見N.Berliner著,〈When Vernacular Meets Fine: Thoughts on Chinese Furniture Studies〉,收錄於《Chinese Furniture: Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-1999》,香港,1999年,頁215,圖11。另有一例黃花梨四出頭官帽椅,售於紐約蘇富比,2012年3月20日,拍品編號127,可資參考。
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.
Bonhams continues to hold viewings and sales in accordance with government guidelines. In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, in-person bidding for this sale will be by reservation only and we recommend registering in advance to confirm your reserved place. To book your place for viewing or bidding in the saleroom, please email suzi.yang@bonhams. You can register on the Bonhams app, online or arrange to bid by telephone or place an absentee bid. For up to date information on the sale and how to register, please contact our Client Services at info@bonhams.com or on 020 7447 7447.
买家佣金及收费 For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates 27.5% on the first ?10,000 of the hammer price; 25% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of ?10,000 up to and including ?450,000; 20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of ?450,000 up to and including ?4,500,000; and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of ?4,500,000.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
买家责任 ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.
付款须知 For payment information please refer to the sale catalogue.
运输须知 For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.