明萬曆 戧金填漆開光雲龍紋畫案

the mitered rectangular top resting on a scrolling apron and secured by two transverse stretchers on the underside, supported on slightly flared 'sword' legs terminating in metal-capped hoof feet and joined by two parallel stretchers, superbly incised and coloured in varying shades of red, green and burnt umber transmuting to black, all picked out with traces of gold filling within the incisions, the table top with a large barbed panel enclosing a five-clawed en face dragon writhing among ruyi-shaped cloud around a 'flaming pearl', its powerful scaly body contorting in mid-air above tempestuous waves, all within a border of black key-fret repeated around the edges and reserved on an orange ground figured with red leiwen, the four corners similarly decorated with lobed panels enclosing a five-clawed dragon and fitted with ruyi-shaped gilt-metal mounts delicately incised with lotus, the apron and legs further incised on the larger ends with confronting dragons vying for a pearl above a central gold flower and picked out with billows of multi-coloured clouds on the sides and back of the legs, all within borders of black key-fret and beneath wan symbols around the top's outer edge, the underside lacquered red and numbered liu ('six') in black paint

父母結婚賀禮，後家族傳承

The table has been reduced in height and adapted to a modern coffee table height. The top has re-lacquering to consolidate cracks. There are two long horizontal cracks on the top - one extending near the top left and the other extending from the centre right and extending to the centre. The metal fittings may have been later added. The apron and legs have some re-lacquering to consolidated cracks. The stretchers may be later replacements. The tips of the feet have been fitted in metal to protect the wood and lacquer. The underside of the table was inscribed with the 六 (six) character. The table is of good solid construction and is very sturdy.
"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."

此戧金填漆龍紋畫案雍雅堂皇，殊為珍罕，昔日想必為萬曆帝置於御閣殿堂。本品保存極佳，華彩和光，炫耀明代家具御作之巧工絕藝。器形紋飾相近之品，可見清宮舊藏黑漆嵌螺鈿案，現仍存北京，收錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．明清家具（上）》 ，香港，2002年，圖版108。或參考一黑漆描金九龍紋桌，售於香港蘇富比2006年10月7日，編號928。

彩漆盛於晚明，既有繪漆藝作，也有技巧繁複之戧金填漆，本品正為後者佳例，匠人依照已定輪廓內填充施藝，層層疊彩。桌上正面坐龍，行龍環繞，威猛生動，與當朝御製織品相仿，或以其為範。織品例可參考 Stephen McGuinness 藏緙絲，曾展於《宋・元・明織繍名品展》，浦上蒼穹堂，東京，1988年，編號12。

明清被譽為中國家具製作之黃金時代。明朝家具的成就之一，在於藝匠對木材之瞭若指掌，且善用榫卯，無須粘貼、釘子，已可堅固接駁各個部份。田家青在〈The Artistry of Ming and Ming-style Furniture Construction〉中指，明式家具猶如一個大家族，個體之間的關係就像榫卯那麼直接，參考《Important Chinese Furniture Formerly in the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection》，紐約，1996年，頁22。榫卯成對而製，彼此天造地設，沒有錯配的可能，匠人稱之為「認家」。此畫案形態優雅，構造繁複，榫卯堅固，經四個世紀的歷練，華美依舊。

王世襄在〈Development of Furniture Design and Construction from the Song and the Ming〉一文中，指明朝家具器形仿襲前代雛本，風格可上追兩宋，數百年來，形制更改甚微，見《Chinese Furniture. Selected Articles from Orientations 1984-1999》，香港，1999年，頁42 。王氏並道，與先朝相比，宮藏署萬曆款之家具較多，可見宮廷對漆家具之鍾愛。當時皇室家具，由宮中御用監負責。