明嘉靖 青花水波游龍紋缸 《大明嘉靖年製》款

the deep tapering sides rising to an everted rim, boldly painted to the exterior with two winged dragons striding amongst cloud scrolls chasing flaming pearls above tumultuous waves, the rim inscribed with a horizontal six-character reign mark

There is a 3-point star crack near the dragon head below the mark, visible both to the interior and exterior, the longest branch measuring 21.5cm. There are two shorter cracks next to this. The base has a C-shaped crack. Some fritting and rim chips. The central interior with further fritting.
"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."

本品上飾翼龍，騰飛波浪之上，渾然靈動，現知近例有二：悉尼Art Gallery of New South Wales藏一例，曾展於《Chinese Ceramics》，悉尼，1965年，編號85；另一例售於倫敦蘇富比1989年5月31日，編號82。本缸造型碩大，製作不易，《景德鎮陶錄》論述，「凡器之高大件最難燒造…造時必倍其坯，式較劣取優者，送窰經燒，難保不有蹻扁損挫之患。」，見《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，頁120。

如此缸例，多飾五爪趕珠雲龍；圖見陸明華，《明代官窰瓷器》，上海博物館，上海，2007年，圖版3-84；另一例曾展於《機暇明道 : 懷海堂藏明代中晚期官窰瓷器》，香港中文大學，香港，2012年，編號17；尚有一例，售於倫敦蘇富比2003年11月12日，編號153；第四例售於紐約佳士得1996年9月19日，編號266。另可比較一例，上繪穿蓮游龍紋，出自Douglas Oliver 與美國賓夕法尼亞州立大學Palmer Museum of Art收藏，兩度售於紐約蘇富比，先後為1976年3月20日，編號118及2004年3月23日，編號640。

參照一宣德雛本，出土自景德鎮明代窰廠遺址永樂時期地層，詳見《景德鎮珠山出土永樂宣德官窰瓷器展覽》，香港市政局，1989年，編號92。