清康熙 紫檀圈椅一對

each elegantly formed by a clean and open profile with a robustly sweeping crestrail made of five sections supported by a pronounced curved pitch of the central backsplat and rounded front and back posts descending through the soft-caned seat and forming the legs, the seat framed by square-sectioned humpbacked stretchers and vertical struts below, the legs further secured by rounded foot-stretchers, the fine-grain wood of deep chestnut patina

安思遠，《洪氏所藏木器百圖第二卷》，香港，2005年，頁38-39，編號14

The overall condition is quite good. One armchair with a repaired breaks to one of the overlapping joints and one of the pipe joints. The front right post is probably replaced. The other armchair with consolidated joints along the crestrail.
"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."

圈椅源自以柔韌的竹製成的馬蹄形椅，這種椅子輕巧、牢固和穩重。竹子生長快速而普遍，圈椅雅致而簡樸，在繁忙的都市中，增添了清雅的鄉土氣息。

竹圈椅輕盈、穩固、實用，與中國傳統文化息息相關，久之，人們開始以木材製造圈椅。工匠要製作圈椅弧形搭腦時，稠密的熱帶硬木製作困難，輕但不耐用的木材便以使用。要使用高貴順美的熱帶硬木，工匠發明了一個巧妙的方法，以弧形圓材攢接椅圈，兩接圓材以楔釘榫結合，連接緊密。多接圓材攢接成堅固的弧形椅圈，上漆後連接處被隱藏，使椅圈後背與扶手一順而下。以黃花梨、紫檀及其他硬木造圈椅，美麗多變的木材紋理，令圈椅更為出眾。

此對紫檀圈椅靠背獨板一木連做，下端突出與搭腦呈弧形，椅圈貫穿椅面形成前腿。其做工精細繁複，細小的錯漏會影響整體的結構，非能工巧匠不能為之。榫卯之間角度配合緊密。圈椅的製作工藝及選材甚為重要，是古代座具設計中之翹楚，結構簡鍊卻具科學依據。

在明萬曆版木板畫《水滸傳》中，其中一幅插圖中有一張極為相似的圈椅，見王世襄及 柯惕思，《明式傢俱賞珍 加州中國古典傢俱博物館所藏珍品》，三藩市，1995年，頁60之複製本。

一對相似的硬木圈椅，有可能是紫檀，扶手下飾聯邦棍1984年10月13日於紐約蘇富比拍賣，編號838；另一件飾直牙板及卷牙口子，1997年9月23日於紐約蘇富比拍賣，編號410；一件黃花梨例子， 1986年4月11日於紐約蘇富比拍賣，編號373。