清乾隆 黃地青花折枝花果紋天球瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

robustly potted with a globular body rising to a cylindrical neck, the body richly painted in cobalt blue with leafy sprays of ripe peaches and pomegranates, interspersed with a beribonned bouquet of lotus flowers with elegantly meandering stems and a blooming peony sprig, all below a band of upright ruyi-heads alternating with small concentric rings and a further band of stylised pendent ruyi-heads alternating with palmette lotus motifs issuing tendrils, the neck with a thick central band of lotus scrolls issuing curling foliage below a band of pendent ruyi-heads, the rim and underside boredered with a band enclosing motifs of crashing, tumultuous waves, all against a brilliant yellow ground, the footring left unglazed and the base inscribed in undeglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a white panel

S. Marchant & Son，倫敦

The vase is in very good condition except for some fine surface scratches and a few flakes to the yellow enamel, one of oval shape 0.4 x 0.2 cm above the persimmon (visible in illustration on page 28), and another of triangular shape 0.2 x 0.3 x 0.4 cm above the peony (visible in illustration on page 25), as well as one of 0.4 x 0.2 cm among the pomegranate (visible in illustration on page 29). There is also minor glaze pull on the yellow enamel of the narrow band above the foot.
"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."

此天球瓶造型碩大飽滿，紋飾華麗，體現了乾隆皇帝慕古求新的品味，也顯示了景德鎮御窰的能工巧匠在唐英的督促和帶領下，將材華發揮得淋漓盡致。唐英十七歲供職於內務府，事於養心殿，看盡養心殿作坊的琺瑯作及畫作，耳濡目染，為督陶官的職業生涯奠定了良好的基礎。1728年唐英奉雍正帝聖命任景德鎮御廠督陶官，御廠的瓷器製造在他的領導下達到空前的水平，對中西方的瓷器製造影響深遠。

以花果紋作紋飾的天球瓶如鳳毛麟角，如此器黃地飾青花紋飾者更為珍罕。一件最接近的例子但不飾黃地分別於紐約及倫敦蘇富比拍出，最近一次2012年10月9日見於香港蘇富比，編號121（圖一），此器源自張永珍博士收藏。清宮舊藏一件與此器紋飾相同但帶雍正款青花天球瓶，見《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．青花釉裏紅（下）》 ，香港，2000 年，圖版83（圖二）。比起雍正版簡潔的紋飾，此器頸、肩處更為華麗繁複。由雍正器上滿飾頸部的纏枝蓮紋，演變成此器上的纏枝蓮紋帶，由紋飾上可見工匠的傑作基於兩朝皇帝的不同的品味。

黃地青花瓷器始見於明宣德期間，創造了一個名貴的新品種。此器承明朝宣德之風，增添了乾隆皇帝的新元素，更是有過之而無不及。黃地青花瓷器發展至清朝，器形更加豐富。如數件帶乾隆款的梅瓶，其中一件仿永樂朝器形，1990年11月13日於香港蘇富比拍出，編號255（圖三）；另外一對1989年5於31日於紐約蘇富比拍出，編號183；一件豐肩、典型的乾隆梅瓶，1996年4月28日於香港佳士得拍出，編號56。四件景德鎮出土，飾花果紋但破損的宣德盤，曾展於《景德鎮出土明宣德官窰瓷器》，鴻禧美術館，台北，1998年，編號78-2、82-2、85-3 及88。

花卉瑞果紋始於明永樂，但是清朝皇帝們最喜歡的紋飾。朱湯生，《天民樓藏瓷》，香港，1987年，頁30提到這組乾隆仿明永樂青花紋飾，在永樂紋飾的基礎上加以改變，特別在線條和以繪畫重現明青花之鐵斑特徵，使之更有立體感。北京故宮博物藏一永樂例，見耿寶昌，《故宮博物院藏明初青花瓷》，北京，2002，圖15，耿老提到此器帶典型的永樂風格。參考是次拍賣之永樂青花瑞果梅瓶（編號3023）。此器上的紋飾是以永樂器為藍本，體現了乾隆帝慕古好雅的情懷。

明初青花紋飾疏朗明快，自然流暢，畫面多留白地。此特點初見於永樂青花及甜白器上，繪畫工匠運用小筆觸，令器面出現深淺不一的顏色。至乾隆永樂時期的自然魅力已經演變成精緻的裝飾圖案，頸肩處華麗吉祥的如意紋飾依然延續。

花卉瑞果紋飾在天球瓶造型上展出了新的生命。天圓地方的天球瓶源於明永樂期間，清朝工匠把瓶頸、肩改大，造型更為宏偉穩健。天球瓶需要設計改造，紋飾的組合使之為和諧。折枝桃、石榴舒展於器腹，中間以折枝花卉相隔，均以三角形的形態繪製。不僅美觀，且含有吉祥的象徵意義。桃寓意長壽，石榴象徵多子嗣，人們相信花可辟邪。