十七/十八世紀 黃花梨嵌百寶螭龍博古紋圈椅一對

the five-member crestrail inlaid with six mother-of-pearl chilong, the two larger creatures grasping vegetal scrolls towards the rounded terminals, the single-board S-curved splat, flanked by mock-spandrels, featuring two enclosed panels, the upper with inlaid horn and mother-of-pearl chilong, with a larger panel of groups of vases, censers and precious objects in soapstone, ivory and horn below, the soft matted seats with two transverse braces, set above an apron carved with entwined scrolls, the four posts continuing to the rounded legs with continuous brackets, box stretcher

1960年代初購自 Knokke，比利時
比利時私人收藏

Both chairs with all four legs reduced. The chair to the left in the main catalogue image with an old restored break to the top rail, and various age cracks to the wood. Some losses to the mother of pearl and horn inlay, and minor chips and small losses to the soapstone vessel inlay. Characteristic surface wear, particularly to the front part of stretcher. The matted seat with surface wear. The chair to the right in the main catalogue image with a restored split in the wood to the front right arm rest, and a crack to the back splat. Similar minor losses to the soapstone, horn and mother of pearl inlay and several age cracks to the wood.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

嵌飾技法應源自建築圖板，較常見於木製筆筒和木盒上，百寶嵌黃花梨傢具極為罕有。根據王世襄《中國傢具賞鑒—明代與清代早期》，香港，1990年，頁145記述，明代工匠周築首創將珍貴材料鑲嵌於木器及漆器，故此嵌飾技法亦稱「周製」。已知存世的百寶嵌圈椅僅有二對，皆嵌博古紋。其一與本品非常相近，2008年3月18日售於紐約蘇富比，編號233；其二為Rafi Y. Mottahedeh夫人收藏，惟扶手缺嵌飾，1990年10月19日售於紐約蘇富比，編號580。

至今已被發表的百寶嵌黃花梨官帽椅僅有七張，皆飾花鳥紋。一組四張之其一錄於Nancy Berliner等《Beyond the Screen: Chinese Furniture of the 16th and 17th Century》，麻省威爾明頓，1996年，編號10，頁109－111；另一作例錄於葉承耀等《The Dr. S.Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture II: Chan Chair and Qin Bench》，香港，1998年，編號3，頁62－63；臺北國立歷史博物館藏另一成對之作例，錄於《風華再現―明清家具收藏展》，臺北，1999年，頁86。

相關百寶嵌木器見一盒例，1988年11月17日售於香港蘇富比，編號256；一傳十七世紀屏風，1980年10月25日售於倫敦蘇富比，編號282。另參見John D. Rockefeller Jr.和Nelson Rockefeller故藏一對圈椅，形態與本品相約，惟缺嵌飾，靠背刻博古和螭龍紋，1922年12月2日售於倫敦蘇富比，編號67。