清十七世紀 犀角雕「八仙慶壽」盃

the exterior deftly carved in openwork and high relief with eight Daoist immortals in loose-fitting robes, some accompanied by their attendants, ascending a craggy mountain with a balustraded pavilion among a variety of leafy trees in a continuous landscape, two of them greeting Shoulao, the God of Longevity seated on a flying crane followed by two further attendents, all beneath scrolling clouds extending to the interior, further carved with a fierce sinuous five-clawed dragon amidst further clouds around the flaring mouth, the horn of variegated brown colour, wood stand

George Headley 收藏

《金木水火土：香港文物收藏精品展》，香港藝術博物館，2003-2005年，編號19
弗利爾美術館，華盛頓，2001年春

霍滿棠，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，頁196 ，圖版141

The overall condition is very good with the exception of an approximately 1cm. restuck chip to the mouth and a 3 x 8 mm. sliver repair to the base. There are two filled-in age cracks to the mouth and a restuck branch in the middle. The surfaces are very well maintained in general.
"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."

犀角雕八仙題材盃已見數例，但盃內沿雕五爪雲龍紋者如鳳毛麟角。傳世品中唯見一件雕人物、龍紋的犀角盃，原為仇大雄舊藏，2011年4月8日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號2714。盃內粗壯的巨龍伏身於雲海之中，只露出雙目圓瞪的龍頭、龍爪和龍尾，充滿活力和動感。盃外沉醉仙境裏的八仙與盃內威武洶湧的雲龍造成強烈的對比。

八仙是犀角雕刻的熱門題材之一，道教文化中的八寶之一就有犀角 。此盃上壽老駕鶴飛天，仙人們游戲亭台樓閣之中。Jan Chapman 《The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China》，倫敦，1999年，頁201，筆者提到八仙題材的犀角盃以三種不同的工藝表現，愛爾蘭都柏林切斯特比替圖書館藏三件典型八仙盃。仙境裏壽老站於群仙中間，同上註頁268-270及174。盃上漂浮縈繞的祥雲把仙境、人間相連。八仙為長壽的象徵，仙鶴、蒼松寓松鶴同春之意，飛鶴會帶領死去的靈魂去極樂之地。

仇焱之及仇大雄藏一件類似的八仙犀角盃，見霍滿棠，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，圖版142，2013年10月8日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號3243。北京故宮博物院藏一件與此器紋飾甚為相似，參見《故宮雕刻珍萃》，北京，2002年，頁211。另一件為台北故宮博物院藏，曾展於《匠心與仙工：明清雕刻展》，國立故宮博物院，台北，2011年，編號29。葉義醫生舊藏一件，見葉義《Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Carvings》，亞洲國際藝術古董展，香港，1982年，頁21，編號2。第四件類似的犀角盃原為仇焱之及仇大雄所藏，2011年4月8日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號2714。