明隆慶 青花礬紅「水波九龍」圖小盌 《大明隆慶年造》款

the deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot to an everted rim, boldly painted in iron red with four pairs of confronting writhing five-clawed dragons dancing among flames above a turbulent sea, the interior similarly decorated with an iron-red dragon writhing above crested waves within a double-blue line border repeated at the rim, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character mark within double circles

The bowl is in overall very good condition with almost no wear to the iron-red enamels.
"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."

景德鎮隆慶年款官窰器極為罕見，殆因隆慶皇帝在位僅六載。然 Jessica Harrison-Hall，《Ming Ceramics in the British Museum》，倫敦，2001年，頁268，在書中指，據史料記載，隆慶年間，宮廷訂燒仍持續不斷，顯見官方需求殷切。因此，如此盌之署隆慶款器，於瓷器斷代考證，意義尤重。台北故宮博物院藏盌，形制與此類同，錄於《故宮藏瓷：明彩瓷三》，香港，1966年，圖版1，同書另載一盃，飾礬紅彩龍紋，上下綴青花弦線，圖版2。

礬紅彩龍紋，始見於明洪武時，正德至萬曆年間再度流行，直至滿清一朝。此盌上飾紋，體現了技藝傳統之傳承。洪武年製相同器形及紋飾作例，可見一雲龍紋盤，出土於南京明代宮廷遺址，展於《明代官窒靑花磁器の宝庫：南京博物院蔵》，佐川美術館，守山市，2003年，編號10。