意大利泥金木雕座椅一套，羅馬， 十八世紀中後期

comprising a sofa and four armchairs, each armchair with a rectangular curved padded back above padded arms and bowed padded seat, with outward curved arm supports, the seat-rail centred by a patera flanked by stylised scallopshells, the sabre legs headed by a neo-mask in a drapery headdress, the whole carved with berried laurel leaves and flowerheads and with chanelled frames

In overall very good conserved condition. Joints sound and sturdy. Rare model and very good quality carving. Some very minor retouching in places to the gilding with some minor wear in places. Old very minor marks and chips to gilding commensurate with normal usage as visible from the catalogue photograph which can easily be touched up. There are some hairline construction cracks at the joints commensurate with age and normal usage which can be left. There is a mask at the top of the inside of one rear leg on one armchair which is possibly a replacement as it has been left ungilded. A leaf on the inside of the foot on one rear leg has also been left ungilded and is possibly a later replacement. There have been some old very minor restorations to e.g some of the masks and some husks which have been left ungilded but which are hardly noticeable. The rear three middle legs on the sofa are uncarved and ungilded. The underside of the seat of the sofa has been strengthened. Evidence of old very minor worm which appears to be no longer active as visible from the detail photograph on p. 201.
"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."

此組泥金木雕座椅份外高貴優雅，坐擁不同凡響且創意新穎的設計，是十八世紀後期羅馬新古典風格座椅貯藏中的極致典範。本作品為紀錄以來三套重要座椅之一，毋庸置疑，三者均出自同一工坊，來源超卓。椅上大膽鮮明的雕刻，精練別緻之造型，均反映十八世紀後期意大利的一股熱潮，羅馬巨匠施展精湛工藝，使古董原型重現人前。

紀錄上另外兩組款式相異的同類型座椅，分別存於公眾及私人收藏之中。其中一組為六張重要羅馬扶手椅，現收藏於薩福克郡（Suffolk）伊克沃斯大宅（Ickworth House）的會客廳內，該椅與大宅的整體設計風格極為匹配，也與鮑格才別墅公園（Villa Borghese）由安東尼奧‧阿斯布魯齊（Antonio Asprucci）（1723-1808）設計之椅組風格相似。另一組作品則是一套九張扶手椅，其中一張現作為倫敦維多利亞與艾伯特博物館（Victoria and Albert Museum）館藏，傳曾為德米多弗（Demidoff）收藏之一，置於菲耶索萊（Fiesole）聖多納托別墅（Villa San Donato）。上述兩套作品相信是來自同一設計師手筆，也是由同一工坊的一位工匠製作。從是次拍賣之座椅及以上範例所見，作品的款式變化、原型的獨有特色，說明了三組座椅極有可能出自一項盛大的重置工程，與設計師安東尼奧‧阿斯布魯齊參與之項目相可比擬，他是著名設計師馬里奧‧阿斯布魯齊之父，曾擔任鮑格才收藏的策展人，曾策劃設計羅馬各宮殿邸宅和鮑格才別墅公園。