清乾隆 白玉「瑞鳥報春」圖蓋盒一對

of compressed globular form supported on a square-cut footring, the domed covers very finely carved on top with a low relief medallion within a raised border, each enclosing two long-tailed birds perched or flying around a fruiting tree issuing from a pierced garden rock, one box with an additional spray of chrysanthemum and the other with a cluster of rohdea japonica, the sides left plain save for a thin stepped lip encircling the rim and repeated around the box, the smoothly polished stone of ideal even-white colour with a few icy inclusions and russet-'skin' highlights

松竹堂收藏

《韞玉生輝：松竹堂珍藏玉器》，香港，2011年，編號105

There are a few very occasional minor nibbles and nicks along the edges of the inner rims, predominantly on one box, but overall the two boxes and covers are in very good condition. The jade colour on both boxes is very white and close to 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."

玉盒蓋面飾花鳥圖紋，秀麗雅致，乃乾隆御製玉器之佳例。雖無帶年款，玉質無瑕勻淨，雕技圓熟工巧，皆為乾隆朝御製器之特點。工匠運用淺浮雕巧琢盒蓋圖紋，更顯玉石通透之質。

花鳥圖紋飾溫雅，仿古之外，更是乾隆帝喜愛的題材。造辦處玉匠常取材於青銅器及宮廷繪畫，以期於玉雕之中，呈現水墨畫般自然寫意。飛鳥靜佇春蕊枝頭之景，擷取自宋代花鳥繪畫，玉匠以巧技凸顯不同材質之獨特質感，饒富趣味。

可參考一類同玉盒，尺寸略小，蓋作相似花卉紋飾，盒周綴八吉祥紋，展出於《玉緣：德安堂藏玉》，故宮博物院，北京，2004年，編號108。同類花鳥紋飾，亦可見於不同類型玉作，如北京故宮藏一月形蓋瓶，載於《華夏古玉．鑑賞編》，卷12，香港，1997年，圖版24。一件蝙蝠花卉紋圓插屏，亦同展於《玉緣：德安堂藏玉》，前述出處，編號25。

此類蓋盒亦見 T.B. Kitson 珍藏一件壽字五蝠紋作例，曾二度售於倫敦蘇富比，分別為1961年5月30日，編號428，及1970年2月24日，編號116，並售於香港佳士得2007年11月27日，編號1519。另一例盒蓋作「囍」字紋，售於紐約佳士得2011年9月15日，編號1004。

鳴鳥象徵高壽、忠實、無私及盡孝，因而此類蓋盒，原應用作新婚或周年慶賀之禮。