明末 / 清初 黃花梨卷口靠背卷草紋玫瑰椅一對

方材搭腦兩端以悶榫斜切角接合後腿上截，後腿穿過椅盤成為腿足，一木連做，搭腦四面打窪角踩委角線。扶手後端以格肩榫納入後腿上截，前端同樣以斜切悶榫角接合前腿上截，穿過椅盤成為腿足，一木連做。帶回紋雕飾的拱門形牙子沿邊起線，嵌入搭腦及後腿上截的槽口，下方出榫納入方材橫棖，棖子與椅盤間施三根矮老。兩邊扶手下亦裝有相似牙子、橫棖與矮老。前後腿足上截、扶手與橫棖的線腳裝飾與搭腦相似。椅盤為標準格角榫攢邊，下裝一雙彎帶支承，四框內緣踩邊打眼造軟屜，現裝舊蓆為更替品。邊抹冰盤沿線腳裝飾與腿足相似。抹頭可見明榫。座面下壺門式牙子沿邊起線，雕飾優美的卷草紋，二側嵌入腿足的槽口，上方齊頭碰椅盤底部。左右兩側裝造型相似的起線牙子，後方則為短素牙條。前方腿足間施踏腳棖，下有一素牙子。其他三面裝帶線腳裝飾的管腳棖，皆出透榫。左右兩側管腳棖下裝有素牙子。四足安銅護套。

Kai-Yin Lo Collection, Hong Kong.

The Chinese Collections, Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 1997-99, p. 124.
Grace Wu Bruce, Feast by a Wine Table Reclining on a Couch: The Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture III, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 3, pp. 32-33.
Grace Wu Bruce, Grace Wu Bruce presents a Choice Selection of Ming Furniture from the Dr. S. Y. Yip Collection, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 2012, pp. 34-35.

Catherine Maudsley, ed., Classical and Vernacular Chinese Furniture in the Living Environment, Hong Kong, 1998, p. 125.

As typical of Ming chairs, the matting on the seats and back tests are replaced intermittently. General surface wear and insignificant bruises to the fragile extremities , as expected of Ming furniture preserved over the centuries in a domestic setting.
"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."

"A classic literati type of chair for scholars to sit fairly upright, with minimal support to the mid-back so as not to induce sleep. It would be delicious to own this pair from the original set of four – the other two being at the Victoria and Albert Museum!"

Rose chairs are one of three types of classic Ming chair designs.  The prototype of rose chairs was already seen in Song paintings, such as the Eighteen Scholars, where they were used by the literati in halls and gardens.

These chairs are identical to the pair in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, probably from the same set, published in Craig Clunas, Chinese Furniture, Victoria and Albert Museum Far Eastern Series, London, 1988, p. 30.