清十七/十八世紀 黃花梨官帽椅一對

each with a scrolled crest rail above a gently curved backsplat, with out-scrolled arms supported by S-form stiles mortise and tenoned to the seat frame, the legs joined by footrail and stretchers

J.H. Zeeman 博士收藏，Zeeman 博士曾於1954-1957年間在荷蘭駐北京使館擔任臨時代辦一職
自此家族收藏

These chairs are in reasonably good condition, but there is a repair to the end of the left and right arms (11cm and 10cm long respectively) of one. The other chair has evidence of repair to the crest rail to each side close to the upright (12cm and 11cm long) and there is also repair to the end of the left arm (13cm long), which extends 3cm down the upright. There is slight damage to the other arm where it meets the upright. There are also some slight repairs to the stretchers under the seat rails. There is also evidence of a missing stretcher joining the back legs below the seat rail on both.
"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."

黃花梨官帽椅造型簡潔，賞心悅目，甚具現代美感，因形似明朝官員制帽得名，古人視之為權位象徵，乃王公貴胄的座椅。十五世紀木匠典籍《魯班經》詳細描述官帽椅製式，並稱許其榫卯結合方式為中國家具之典範。此對官帽椅帶羅鍋棖，鵝脖稍彎，與聯邦棍呼應。自十五至十九世紀，中國家具線條趨向流麗，榫卯接位不著痕跡，正反映於官帽椅中。

可參考一張與本品類同的黃花梨官帽椅，但座面牙條有雕刻，由陳夢家收藏，收錄於王世襄，《古典中國家具》，香港，1986年，圖版45；另一例見George N. Kates，《Chinese Household Furniture》，紐約，1948年，圖版79。亦可比較其他類例，扶手不連鵝脖，如一張花梨木例，傳為明代，出自清宮舊藏，現存北京，載錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集：明清家具》，香港，1990，圖版A71。

關於官帽椅之由來，文人學者爭論多年仍無定案，有論者認為乃自外傳入。中式家具的早期形象多見於古絲路上的佛教畫像， 扶手椅腿外延、攢靠背，例如敦煌第196號洞窟壁畫，斷代為唐代，圖見Sarah Handler，《Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical Furniture》，柏克萊，2001年，圖版4.2。時至明代，官帽椅已分作兩種：扶手及前腿以同一塊木材連接而成，另一種扶手稍向內彎，如本品，結構不如前者般堅實耐用。因此，此對官帽椅流傳至今，結構仍然良好，誠為難得。

Craig Clunas敘述，此類椅多為成對，應與中式房間擺設追求對稱有關，見《Chinese Furniture》，倫敦，1988年，頁20。據明清木刻版畫記載，此類椅或置於飯廳，或於廳堂款客，亦見於文士書閣。一例可參見1616年版《金瓶梅》，畫中男子與正妻坐於官帽椅上用膳，眾小妾則坐凳上（出處同上，圖版8）。關於官帽椅之基本製式及紋飾詞彙，見Curtis Evarts，《From Ornate to Unadorned》，《Journal of the Chinese Classical Furniture Society》，1993年春，頁24-33。