明嘉靖 青花百子「嬰戲圖」罐 《大明嘉靖年製》款

of ovoid form, well potted with gently rounded sides rising to high shoulders and a straight neck, delicately painted around the exterior in shaded tones of cobalt with a continuous scene of the 'Hundred Boys' at play set in a lakeside garden beneath tall pine bearing clusters of needles, leafy bamboos and blossoming peony trees, with further lotus flowers drifting on the rippling lake, the boys playing with puppets, crickets, lanterns, dragon flies, riding a hobby horse and lighting firecrackers, all under scrolling clouds drapping the shoulder, the neck encircled by a chain of interlinked ruyi heads and diamonds, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within double circles, wood cover

（傳）日本重要博物館藏品

There is a firing crack to the base of the interior, and a firing line running approximately 1/3 of the jar on the outside around the foot, beginning of which as shown in illustration. There is also some glaze fritting to the interior mouth rim. Otherwise the vase is in good condition.
"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."

百子罐所飾孩童，活潑俏皮，栩栩如生，充份展現嘉靖年間青花瓷繪之流麗生動。嬰戲圖乃祥瑞之飾，寓意多子多孫，更寄貴子金榜高中之願，流行於嘉靖一朝，時見於執壺、蓋盒、盌及瓶器之上。蘇玫瑰在《Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art》中提出嬰戲圖或與道教「返老還童」之說有關，倫敦，1989年，頁80。嘉靖帝篤信道教，是以相關禎祥紋飾尤為風行，習見於宮廷藝作。

倫敦蘇富比曾售出一與此相近之罐，1988年6月7日，編號241。另有一例，器身較形豐腴，售於倫敦佳士得1974年11月25日，編號235。還可參考源禮藩醫生藏萬曆年款例，展於《爐火純青：嘉靖及萬曆官窰瓷器》，香港大學美術博物館，香港，2009年，編號59。