清乾隆 綠地粉彩「福壽連綿」圖瓜棱式蓋壺 《大清乾隆年製》款

the globular body finely potted with six rounded lobes supported on a low foot below a small tapered rim of conforming section, set with an 'S'-spout opposite a loop handle formed of a sinuous chilong with head tucked into the rear lobe, finely decorated on each side with a pink-petalled lotus wreathed in scrolling foliage, interlinked with a pale blue bat above and a pink ruyi below, with attendant camellias and smaller lotus issuing from the curling stems, all reserved on a fine unctuous glaze of even pastel-green tone, the spout detailed with sprays of lotus and blue floret, the handle picked out with the eyes of the archaistic dragon, all between pink key-fret edged in gilt at the rim and a pink dotted band encircling the foot, the domed cover similarly decorated with floral scrolls on a lime-green ground between a gilt lobed rim and a lotus bud knop picked out with gilt petals, the interior and the base glazed in pale turquoise, the latter inscribed in iron-red with a six-character seal mark within a square panel reserved in white

香港蘇富比1996年11月5日，編號882

The teapot and cover are in overall very good condition. There are a few original gaps or shrinkages in the glaze on the interior of the pot. There is some light minor wear on the cusps around the interior of the lobed rim resulting from the contact with the cover. The glaze and enamels are very well preserved.
"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."

此茶壺優美新穎的瓜棱形造型體現了乾隆皇帝對飲茶的鍾愛，尤其古樸的曲柄，更惹人喜愛。乾隆帝喜歡古玩，而他設計靈感也來自的骨董珍玩。曲柄上的夔龍源自古青銅器，巧妙地飾於壺柄，顯示了乾隆帝的慕古情懷。

乾隆皇帝喜愛飲茶，對烹茗泡茶甚有心得，經常賦詩詠之。他所詠茶詩達二百多首，在他的詩中可知他對選茶、烹茶瞭如指掌。乾隆年間重華宮每年於元旦後三日舉行茶宴，與內廷詞臣歡聚，飲茶賦詩為樂。

因乾隆皇帝對茶文化的喜愛，茶事活動在清宮廷生活中佔有重要地位，因而產生了各類精美、與茶密切相關的茶具，有仿古、也有創新。茶壺製作非常嚴謹，更不惜工本，由造辦處出樣，按皇室要求製作，無不精美，具有很高的藝術價值，此壺便是其中的佼佼者。

可作比較的一件乾隆綠地粉彩蓮紋茶壺1997年4月28日於香港佳士得拍出，編號756；一件帶嘉慶款紋飾類似的茶壺2010年12月1日於香港佳士得拍出，編號3206；另一件嘉慶松綠地粉彩飾蓮紋茶壺2008年5月14日於倫敦蘇富比拍出，編號717。瓜棱形例2012年11月6日於倫敦佳士得拍出，編號260；另有一對飾梅花，壺柄作梅枝形2011年5月12日於倫敦邦翰斯拍出，編號368。