清乾隆 窰變釉杏圓貫耳方壺 《大清乾隆年製》款

of archaic bronze form, the pear-shaped body of rectangular section rising from a gently spreading foot to a quatrefoil rim, set at the shoulder with a pair of square lug handles and moulded to the front and back with a raised peach-form panel, covered overall with a lustrous glaze of violet-purple tone with broad creamy lavender streaks, thinning to a buff colour at the rim and along the edges, the base incised with a six-character seal mark and further applied with a greyish glaze with russet patches

This brightly glazed vase has a 3.5cm., wide bruise to the rim, a hairline rim crack (extending 2cm., internally, 3cm., externally), a 6cm., hairline firing glaze line to the base and the footring has been polished and reduced in height.
"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."

一件類近作例圖見於《徐氏藝術館：陶瓷IV·清代》，香港，1995年， 圖版 47；另一件錄於J.J. Marquet de Vasselot，羅浮宮博物館，《Chinese Ceramics. K’ang Hsi Period to our Days》，巴黎，1922，圖版35；另二例售於香港蘇富比，其一售於1993年10月26日，其二體積稍微較大，售於2008年4月11日，編號2973。

本類壺例創思源自宋朝，彰顯清代瓷匠超凡造詣，仿古造型釉彩兼合當朝美學神韻。窰變釉以宋代鈞窰釉為雛本，雍正年間復興流行直至清末。本品造型設計以官釉梨形壺或方壺為基礎，其源可上溯古青銅禮器。