清乾隆 紫檀纏枝洋花收腿式六方几

the flat hexagonal top resting on a constricted waist and protruding apron terminating with angular scroll 'feet', the apron set with six drawers, the apron gently tapering to straight legs accented with scroll feet detailed with a trefoil foliate motif, the waist bordered with a band enclosing a floral scroll above two further petal and ruyi-shaped lappets, the drawers centred with a handle forming the stamen of a stylised lotus blossom, the blossom flanked by undulating leaves and further blooms, the legs set with a hexagonal panel above the scroll feet, the panel intricately reticulated with a stylised lotus bloom wreathed in dense foliate of undulating leaves and further lotus blossoms

山中商會

《世界古美術大展覽会》，山中商會、東京美術俱樂部，大阪、東京，1932年，編號770

The table is a magnificent example preserved in extraordinarily good condition. As typical of all Imperial zitan furniture of this scale and quality, the table is comprised of multiple sections. Where these separate sections link, there are age cracks and shrinkage in places, resulting in minor gaps and cracks. There is an additional minor crack at the hexagonal panel. Of the six sections of floral borders below one of the drawers, one of the sections has been detached and broken into two fragments (photos available upon request), but is available to refix. Another section of 25cm, approximately 2/3 of the section is missing. Photos are available upon request. There are other minor cracks, shrinkage and surface wear. The upper surface of the table has been treated with a light polish, and consolidated at the joins.
"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."

乾隆帝屬意融合歐式及中式風格之設計，以彰顯其無上君權及威顯。為此，造辦處的中西匠人協手合作，造就獨一無二之御用器物。明代家具以簡潔素雅著稱，清代家具則以繁複、華麗，深雕紋飾為其創新，亦反映出乾隆帝對於堂皇富麗之傾愛。模擬凡爾賽宮的特里亞農宮，圓明園北之西洋樓採歐式宮廷建築風格，裝飾上使用大量如卷葉一類西式紋飾。此件拍品上，亦可見到這類優雅卷曲葉紋，環繞中式蓮紋，抽屜雕飾之纏枝花卉紋，且類似圓明園建築構件常見的貝形。可比較圓明園銅版畫中記錄之海晏堂西側的噴水池圍欄，展出於《從北京到凡爾賽－中法美術交流》，香港藝術館，香港，1997年，編號100。

此桌面尺幅甚大，加上兩側抽屜的設計，原應為下棋之用。其形制融合扇面與棋桌這兩種源自明代之桌形。明清繪畫及版畫中可見，併二方扇面桌，以呈六方形之桌面使用；可參考清初期版畫出自《百美圖》，卷3，編號26，錄於王世襄，《明式家具研究》，卷1，香港，1990年，頁74，圖2.27。北京故宮藏有一對半六方形桌面紫檀几，亦飾有相類之纏枝紋飾，但無鏤雕飾板及抽屜，刊載於《故宮博物院藏明清宮廷家具大觀》，上卷，北京，2007年，圖版177，同錄還有一件半圓形桌，亦雕作相類飾板，圖版178。

用作雙骰或是棋戲的桌几，自明代便為盛行，特徵為抽屜深，且於活面桌板下作棋盤格。據展覽圖錄《Beyond the Screen: Chinese Furniture of the 16th and 17th Centuries》，波士頓美術館，波士頓，1996年，頁41，清中晚期可見的大型附抽屜桌，應得西方影響之致，而此几每面皆設抽屜，應為如此文化融薈之產物。一件黃花梨方形活面棋桌，附隱藏式抽屜及活動桌板，斷為十七世紀，2008年12月3日售於香港佳士得，編號2531。附多個抽屜之英式桌款，可比較英皇喬治三世時期，桃花心木抽屜式八角邊桌，約造於1765年，出自法國 Groussay 城堡，Charles de Beistegui 收藏，於1999年6月2-6日，蘇富比 Groussay 城堡專拍售出，編號1110。

以珍稀紫檀木打造，更突顯此几之重要性。紫檀屬最受珍視之木料，其木紋結構極度緻密，重量也沉。經年使用，紫檀呈現出深濃潤澤的自然光澤，稱作「包漿亮」， 堪與玉質相比擬，亦是無法仿製的。紫檀木生長極緩，數目稀少，使其更為昂貴，清以前已是備受保護之物種。

此類融合中西風格形制之紫檀桌子，相當少見，然類同設計可見於其他紫檀家具；可參考一件清宮舊藏紫檀椅，飾大理花紋飾，現藏北京故宮，刊錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．明清家具（下）》，香港，2002年，圖版55。亦可參考一件雕飾精美的紫檀櫃，飾有西方洛可可風格花卉紋飾，藏於故宮博物院，錄於田家青，〈Zitan and Zitan Furniture〉，《Orientations》，1994年，12月刊，圖5；香港蘇富比曾售出一件紫檀寶座，2008年4月11日，編號2825。