明末 黃花梨高靠背南官帽椅一對

此椅用材細緻，彎弧優美。搭腦雕刻明確有力中成枕形。素面三彎靠背板，上下嵌入搭腦下方及椅盤後大邊的槽口。三彎形靠背板木紋生動。後腿上截以挖煙袋鍋的造法連接搭腦兩端，向下穿過椅盤成為腿足，一木連做；前腿亦為相同造法。三彎弧形的扶手與前腿鵝脖同樣也以挖煙袋鍋的造法連接，後端出榫接入後腿上截，中間支以三彎形上細下大的圓材聯幫棍。椅盤為格角榫攢邊框，抹頭見透榫，下有一雙托帶支承。邊抹冰盤沿上舒下斂底壓窄邊線。四框內緣踩邊打眼造軟屜，現用舊蓆是更替品。座面下安券口牙子，沿邊起寬皮條線。上方齊頭碰椅盤下面，二側嵌入腿足，底端出榫納入踏腳棖。左右兩面安相似券口牙子，後方為短牙子。前腿間下施一腳踏，左右兩邊及後方安長方材混面趕棖。全出透榫。腳踏與二側棖下各安素牙子。扶手接入後腿上截處以銅片加固。

伍嘉恩，《楮檀室夢旅：攻玉山房藏明式黃花梨家具》，香港中文大學文物館，香港，1991年，編號3，頁26-27
《中國文物收藏》，亞洲文明博物館，新加坡，1997-99年
《嘉木堂呈獻葉承耀醫生藏明式家具珍品》，當代藝術中心，倫敦，1999年
伍嘉恩，《嘉木堂呈獻攻玉山房黃花梨精選》，香港會議展覽中心，香港，2012年，頁14-15

The chairs are in an exceptional state of preservation. As typical of Ming chairs, the matting has been periodically replaced. There are minor areas of strengthening and consolidation, as expected of furniture of this period. The chair photoed on the left (page 86 in catalogue photo) has a minor area of consolidation to the back left corner. Other general surface wear, age cracks and insignificant bruises. As expected of Ming furniture, there is minor retouching to the fragile extremities.
"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."

「成對南官帽椅，靠背愈高崇，身份愈矜貴，置室清華溢典風。」

南官帽椅為典型明朝椅具。明朝時各種椅具有等級之分，大型與高靠背椅子被視為較重要之座席，是府中主人與身份地位較高的賓客專用。此例靠背特別高，當時是非常重要人士之坐具。此對椅子全身光素，只在椅盤下起窄邊線和前牙子壓皮條線，令其特高靠背如雕像般分外着眼。靠背板木紋狀如旋轉圓窩，盡顯黃花梨木紋美態。

現例屬南官帽椅的標準式，但造型特別高大，讓其氣勢雄渾，是同類中的優秀範例。有造型與現例相似，但靠背板帶鑲嵌八寶的南官帽椅例子，展錄於 Nancy Berliner，《屏居佳器：十六至十七世紀中國家具》，波士頓美術館，波士頓，1996年，頁111。霍艾博士收藏中也有類似的單件南官帽椅，見《極簡之風：中國古典家具》，科隆東亞藝術博物館，慕尼黑，2004年，圖版10。