明萬曆 鎏金銅嵌銀線饕餮紋瓿式爐 《明萬曆癸丑秋仲胡文明製為石語齋用》款

of archaic pou form, the rounded sides supported on a low flared foot rising to a short waisted neck, cast and gilt in three registers separated by raised gilt borders encircling the shoulder and the waist, the body with two gilt taotie masks against a leiwen ground, and two pairs of confronting kui dragons with writhing bodies and finely detailed mane, the shoulder with twelve pairs of interlocking kui dragons on a floral diaper ground, the outer footrim inlaid in silver with a continuous scroll of leiwen, the mouthrim and footrim further applied with gold, the base with a gilt square panel inscribed Ming Wanli guichou qiuzhong Hu Wenming zhi wei Shiyu zhai yong ('Made by Hu Wenming for the Studio for the Discussion of Stones in the guichou year of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty' [corresponding to 1613 A.D.])

倫敦蘇富比1969年5月13日，編號19
Peter Plesch 博士伉儷收藏，Newcastle-under-Lyme，1984年1月

《Special Exhibition for the International Asian Antiques Fair》，香港，1984年
《文玩萃珍》，香港大學馮平山博物館，香港，1986年，編號103

William Watson，〈Categories of Post-Yuan Decorative Bronzes〉，《Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society》，1981-1982年，卷46，頁24，圖12
Gerard Tsang 及 Hugh Moss，〈Chinese Metalwork of the Hu Wenming Group〉，《Handbook, International Asian Antiques Fair》，香港，1984年，頁49，圖16

The overall condition is quite good with the exception of minor surface scratches and rubbing to the gilding consistent with age and visible in the photo.
"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."

胡文明，晚明人，居雲間（今江蘇松江），擅製銅器，以其鎏金文房器皿見長，工甚精，其作品多採紅銅錘打成形工藝，而以澆鑄之法鍛製的青銅與紅銅作品，精美稀有，所見甚少。本品仿古銅器瓿形，署款詳盡，記為：「明萬曆癸丑秋仲胡文明製為石語齋用」。石語齋為鄒迪光齋名，鄒氏，明無錫人，萬曆二年進士，授工部主事，官湖廣提學副使。

可比較一件鎏金銅八吉祥紋瓿形壺，署款「明萬曆癸丑孟冬胡文明製為石語齋用」，原為 Mary and George Bloch 伉儷典藏，先後售於倫敦蘇富比1990年12月11日，編號38，及香港蘇富比2005年10月23日，編號12。

據 Gerard Tsang 及 Hugh Moss，《文玩萃珍》，香港，1986年，頁134，古銅器或擬古器中，瓿造型罕有。鄒氏或曾訂製摹仿高古銅瓿之器，好讓胡文明借鑑，從而創作擬古瓿器。同書另就本品之紋飾作討論，提出高古原器拓本與後來簡化紋飾關聯密切，對擬古藝作尤為重要，出處同上，頁134。