A HUANGHUALI SQUARE CORNER-LEG TABLE, FANGZHUO17th centuryFormed of three floating panel set in a square frame above a wraparound waist and double-reeded aprons wrappingpletely around the exterior to simulate bamboo, the stretcher supported by three rectangular struts on each side, the whole is raised on thick legs of round section.87cm (34 1/4in) high x 93.6cm (36 7/8in) wide x 93.6cm (36 7/8in) deepFor further information on this lot please visit theProvenance: 十七世紀 黃花梨無束腰直足裹腿直棖裝卡子花圓包圓方桌Provenance:Evelyn's Ltd., San Francisco, 17 October 1998來源：三藩市Evelyn's藝廊，於1998年10月17日The current table is also known asfangzhuo orbaxianzhuo for its square shape and size amodating eight seats or stools. Tables of this form have been the choice for dining, writing, appreciating antiques, or playing games and have been an essential part of domestic furnishings since the late Ming dynasty. The design of imitating bamboo with a more precious wood indicates the humble attitude of the contemporary Ming literati and their taste on huanghuali furniture.For a pair of late Ming dynasty huanghuali corner-leg side tables of very similar form,banzhuo, seeThe Best of the Best: The MQJ Collection of Ming Furniture, Vol. 1, Beijing, 2017, p.102.桌面以標準格角榫造法攢邊，打槽平鑲三拼面心，下裝三根穿帶出梢支承，兩根出透榫，抹頭亦可見明榫。桌面邊抹冰盤沿上壓平綫後微起混面，下安同樣起混面的牙條垛邊，其下直棖也起混面，垛邊與棖子均以裹腿榫卯互相接合。每邊垛邊與棖子之間裝入三個長方形卡子花，隔出矩形空間。圓材腿足以雙榫納入桌面邊框底部。此類方桌又名「八仙桌」，常用於筵宴，或陳設於正廳長案前，兩側各置一椅，用於招呼賓客。此拍品的裹腿做，平面通起混面，圓形腿足，卡子花等都給人感覺如竹制家具。這種以珍貴木材仿制一般到處可見的竹材家具設計的做法，反映明代文人清趣。參考一對香港嘉木堂舊藏黃花梨裹腿做直棖加矮老裝卡子花半桌，見伍嘉恩著《木趣居：家具中的嘉具，上》，北京，2017年，頁102。