清乾隆 青花水波雲龍紋螭耳扁壺

the flattened globular body rising from a short oval foot to a slender waisted neck, flanked by a pair of chilong handles, the front and back face painted with vivid shades of cobalt-blue depicting a five-clawed dragon and a smaller attendant dragon leaping from turbulent cresting waves, the dragons detailed with ferocious faces and scaly bodies, writhing amongst stylised clouds and flame wisps with bats in flight, all below a band of pendent ruyi heads, the base originally with a six-character seal mark which has since been erased

英國私人收藏

The base covered with a type of brown paint, rubbed off in places to reveal the biscuit body, suggesting that the mark had been erased and the biscuit body later painted brown. The oval base also with two, possibly associated, body cracks cutting across the narrow sides measuring approximately 40mm and 30mm to exterior. Otherwise in excellent general condition, with minor surface scratching. The circular mouth not quite evenly or symetrically potted.
"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."

清朝滿族統治者入主中原後，為鞏固政權，下令製作了大批彰顯其權力及仁德的工藝品。此品形態和紋飾上溯古代經典臻作，古風新釋，器身龍紋更充分顯現出莊嚴大度之皇室氣派。龍素來是中國皇權的象徵，歷代眾多君主中，乾隆皇帝尤好以之彰顯其威名顯赫之宏圖大業。龍紋雕飾畫作佈滿紫禁城內每一宮殿，五爪龍紋更是乾隆帝皇風範之表表者。此類扁壺極為罕見，另一件相關作例2008年12月18日售於巴黎蘇富比，編號68。

本品形態獨特，壺肩較高，應為仿效明初永樂、宣德兩朝而製。龍紋鮮見於乾隆年間以前製作之扁壺，但仍有數件明初傳世作例，參見仇炎之、趙從衍故藏一品，錄於1992年臺北歷史博物館「中國名陶日本巡迴展」，頁118－121，圖片刊於同書封面、及《香港蘇富比三十年週年》，2003年，圖版205。

此扁壺飾畫具明初風格，繪側面龍紋，有別於一般扁壺之正面龍紋。游龍從驚濤駭浪中一躍而出，週邊密布捲雲，與明初構圖基本相同，然清宮瓷匠為迎合乾隆皇帝之奢華品味，另外再增添一龍及繁複的瑞雲和蝙蝠圖案。本品之明代雛本例見仇炎之、趙從衍故藏傳永樂年製一器，1986年11月18日售於香港蘇富比，編號34，錄於Michel Beurdelay，《La Ceramique Chinoise》，弗里堡，彩色圖版56及《世界陶瓷全書》卷11，東京，1955年，圖版74；另見一例1989年6月13日售於倫敦蘇富比，編號210。十八世紀瓷畫師傾心於十五世紀青花瓷，遂發展成一派獨特手法，點畫堆砌出深淺不一的鈷藍釉色，模仿後者製作過程中意外產生的缺陷。

一器與本品設計相約，然形態更趨橢圓，2003年3月26日售於紐約蘇富比，編號263；另參見臺北故宮藏一相關蓋瓶，錄於《故宫藏瓷·清青花瓷》下冊，香港，1968年，圖版20。