清雍正/乾隆 金鑄開光式折枝花卉紋帶蓋執壺

of finely cast pear-shaped form, delicately and intricately incised to one side with a lobed panel enclosing a stylised lotus bloom wreathed by feathery leafy scrolls, set to one side with a slender spout with a flat clasp, and to a right angle a handle terminating in zitan, surmounted by a domed cover linked to the handle by a delicate gold chain

This ewer is in good condition, but does have some light dents to the body and cover in several places. There is also some lights scratches and nicks to the body, spout and cover. There is a small area of scratching to the surface to the interior of the cover.
"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."

本品富麗華貴，幾乎全以黃金製成，奢華極致，迎合清朝帝皇品味。純金器多用於重要儀式或祭祀典禮，唯本器尺寸精巧，似為帝皇個人貼身之物。

如此器型之執壺甚為罕見，一例售於香港蘇富比2007年10月9日，編號 1329。清宮舊藏一例，尺寸較大，長頸，器身呈梨形，現藏於北京，圖見《故宮博物院藏文物珍品大系·宮廷珍寶》，香港，2004年，圖版212，同見兩例，器呈葫蘆形， 圖版210及211；另可比兩例，嵌飾寶石，曾展於《雪域藏珍：西藏文物精華展》，上海博物館，上海，2002年，圖版101及108；Carl Kempe收藏一例，帶乾隆年款，圖錄於《Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection》，烏爾里瑟港，1999年，圖版74，售於香港蘇富比2008年4月11日^，編號 2305。此外尚可參考一例，台北國立故宮博物院藏，帶雍正年款，圖錄於《明清琺瑯器展覽圖錄》，台北，1999年，圖版100。

此類執壺之雛本為酒器，器身呈梨形，彎壺耳，拱形蓋。15世紀期間，此器型之瓷執壺尤為流行；景德鎮遺址曾出土三例，曾展於《景徳鎮珠山出土永樂宣德官窰瓷器展覽》，香港藝術館，香港，1989年，編號14，28及35。金或銀製之雛本遠為珍罕，可參考兩梨形壺例；其一嵌綴寶石，出自George Eumorfopulos收藏，現存於費城Philadelphia Museum of Art，曾展於《明：盛世皇朝50年》，大英博物館，倫敦，2014年，編號65，曾售於倫敦蘇富比1940年5月31日，編號 509；明梁莊王墓（1441年卒）曾出土一例，尺寸較大，圖見Craig Clunas，〈The Other Ming Tombs. Kings and their Ritual Burials in Ming China〉，《Transactions of the Oriental Ceramics Society》，卷 70，2005-2006年， 頁 8，圖版 6。

本品巧飾珍珠地纏枝花卉紋，展現乾隆年間，中西裝飾藝術元素融合之勢。珍珠地銀器，早見於唐代，花瓣形開光紋飾於元代或更早出現，然而本壺之洛可可風格卷葉紋飾，明顯可見西洋美學風格。此類工藝乃雍正及乾隆期間，耶穌會教士與宮廷藝匠合作成果，巧融中西傳統，創思新穎，別出心裁，深獲雍乾二帝青睞。