清乾隆 白玉鏤雕夔龍祥鳳紋「長宜子孫」佩 《乾隆年製》款 「貞字一百六十三號」字

the disc and terminal finely pierced in openwork with the four archaic script characters chang yi zisun ('To Benefit Future Generations Forever') reading vertically, surrounded on the disc by a pair of confronting phoenix clutching a small archaistic beast in their claws and grasping another in their beaks, all within a slightly recessed circular border, the first two characters on the upper crest flanked by undulating archaistic dragons entwined with a phoenix, both detailed with incised hatching, the narrow sides incised with the four-character Qianlong nianzhi mark on one side and and the eight characters zhen zi yibai liushi san hao (Number 163 of zhen) on the other, the white translucent stone finished to a smooth polish, now mounted with a small loop for suspension

There is a 1.5cm. polished chip to the edge of the mane of one archaistic dragon forming the upper crest, some minor pitting and a small pale brown inclusion on the rear edge of the opposite dragon (visible in the catalogue illustration), but overall the plaque is in very good condition. It has been adapted as a pendant and is now mounted with a small gold fitting for suspension. The actual colour is slightly warmer than the catalogue illustration.
"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."

此珮乃乾隆一朝仿古之作，體現乾隆皇慕古之情。鳳首圖紋融合「長宜」二字，實為少見，其原型應溯自東漢作例。清宮舊藏有一漢例，然上作「長樂」二字，且壁上作乳丁紋，現存北京故宮博物院，刊錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集‧玉器（下）》，香港，1995年，圖版127，同書另見一例，上端雕飾較小，內含「益壽」二字，圖版216。

清宮舊藏有更多玉璧例，均雕「長宜子孫」四字，仍存北京，刊於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集‧玉器（下）》，香港，1995年，圖版127。香港蘇富比曾售出一例，2003年4月27日，編號3，此例曾展於《玉緣：德安堂藏玉展》，故宮博物院，北京，2004年，編號21。另一例藏於英國劍橋費茲威廉博物館，錄於林政昇，《The Immortal Stone. Chinese Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Twentieth Century》，劍橋，2009年，圖版77a、77b。L. de Luca 珍藏亦有一作例，2011年4月8日售於香港蘇富比，編號2805。