元 青花鴛鴦踏荷紋盌

the rounded sides rising from a slightly spreading foot, the interior painted with two mandarin ducks in a lotus pond above a tortoise within a circular panel, below a wide band of classic scroll at the rim, the exterior painted with a band of scrolling lotus above a wide band of lappets at the foot

This rare bowl is in good condition with the exception of minute rim frits, a 4mm., shallow glaze flake to the side of the footring and minor glaze firing imperfections including burst glaze bubbles and light glaze scratches.
"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."

本盌描繪鴛鴦踏荷，畫意盎然，悅目賞心，而同繪壽龜，更罕見於此類盌，彰顯瓷匠妙思雅趣。古有青龍、白虎、朱雀、玄武四靈（又稱四象），玄武為龜蛇。龜亦為長壽象徵，故常有古人名字帶龜字：唐代陸龜蒙詩讚秘色越器「九秋風露越窰開，奪得千峰翠色來」，唐時樂工李龜年，深得唐玄宗賞識。

此外，本品小巧，弧壁深腹，頗為鮮見，相類作例多為卷唇，見一較大盌例，現藏大阪市立東洋陶磁美術館，曾展於《幽藍神采：元代青花瓷器特展》，上海，2012年，編號22，同展亦見一例，甘肅武威出土，現藏 威武市博物館，編號45。另比一高足盌例，器型相近，側壁垂直，內繪鴛鴦紋飾，售於香港蘇富比1981年5月20日，編號684。

此外尚可參考一盌例，出土自印度德里飛洛茲王宮殿（毀於公元1398年），圖見Ellen Smart，，《Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society》，卷 51，1975-7年，圖版 86c；另一例出土於菲律賓波塞羅拉，載於 J.M. Addis，《Early Blue and White Excavated in the Philippines》，馬尼拉，1968年，圖版 24。