明末 黃花梨裹腿高羅鍋棖大畫桌

桌面以標準格角榫造法攢邊框，打槽平鑲文紋華美獨板面心，下裝四根穿帶出梢支承，桌面邊抹立面起混面，下裝劈料做的雙混面垛邊牙子。垛邊緊貼桌面。其下四角安單混面角牙，與垛邊相同，皆為裹腿做。羅鍋棖亦是裹腿接合腿足，中部緊貼垛邊。霸王棖下鈎掛墊榫納入四腿子，上接桌面下穿帶，以銷釘固定。圓材腿足以長短榫納入桌面。

伍嘉恩，《楮檀室夢旅：攻玉山房藏明式黃花梨家具展覽》，香港中文大學文物館，香港，1991年，編號24，頁72-73
《中國文物收藏》，亞洲文明博物館，新加坡，1997-99年
東亞藝術博物館，柏林，2000-02年

葉承耀，〈收藏黃花梨明式家具〉，《Arts of Asia》，1991年5-6月，頁120，圖6

This outstanding table has been preserved in exceptionally good condition. As expected for an item of this type kept in a domestic setting over the centuries, there is minor surface wear to the extremities especially the fragile tips of the legs, where there are small areas of consolidation to the front left and back right legs, visible in the catalogue photos.
"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."

「畫桌妙仿竹紋，冠絕同儕，誰與爭鋒？」

竹製或藤編家具常見於宋朝與明朝繪畫中。裹腿做是從竹製與藤編家具得到啟發，運用到硬木家具中。此大畫桌以裹腿做，平面通起混面，圓形腿足，整體予人感覺如竹製家具。此種以珍貴木材仿製一般到處可見的竹材或藤編家具，反映明代文人追求內斂的心態。

此大畫桌，仿形於竹，羅鍋棖向上延伸緊貼桌面下的垛邊，令桌面下腿足間的空間增高，方便人入坐。這安排減低桌子的平穩度在桌面下與足腿間加裝霸王棖補償。

傳世明末清初黃花梨桌中，具足夠寬度，能稱曰畫桌者，實屬稀珍。出版例子未有與此畫桌設計相同者。伍嘉恩，《器美神完：明式家具精萃》，香港，2014，頁114-119 載錄一具黃花梨畫桌，大小與現例相若，卻具束腰馬蹄足。