清乾隆 墨白玉俏雕雙鳥荷葉洗

worked as a furled lotus leaf borne on a stem tied with a string on the underside to other curled stems issuing leaves and a blooming lotus flower, the deep rounded sides detailed to the exterior with finely rendered veins dividing into two streaks just below the rim, two birds and a small crab resting on the edge skilfully carved out of the grey inclusions of the stone, the well-polished jade highlighted with russet patches, wood stand

Sotirios and Elsa Yannopoulos 上將伉儷收藏
Ralph Chait，紐約
Maude Wetzel 收藏
Ashkenazie & Co，三藩市，1983年
Dr. Leonard and Mrs. Ann Marsak 伉儷收藏
紐約佳士得2013年9月19/20日，編號1739

《Magic Art and Order - Jade in Chinese Culture》，棕櫚泉美術館，棕櫚泉市，1990年，編號73

The washer is in overall very good condition with only occasional typical minute nicks to the extremities including one leg of the crab as well as some small areas that have been polished down to conceal insignificant nicks.
"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."

此玉洗巧奪天工，盡顯乾隆一朝藝匠嫻熟技藝，其葉紋細膩，鳥兒栩栩如生，荷葉形態自然靈動，隨形巧作，良材善用，巧色琢雙鳥螃蟹，因材施藝，匠心獨運。

荷葉形之洗及水滴流行於明朝，蔚為風尚，材質多樣，包括瓷、瑪瑙、銅、玉等。此等珍玩，常置文人書閣，包羅萬象，小中見大，文人足不出戶而神遊天地，體會自然無窮意趣，於日常公務之間，偷得逸致。珍玩種類繁多，如玉山、筆筒、玉洗等，寓意祥瑞。本品荷葉上綴雙鳥螃蟹，祝賀新人共諧連理，婚姻和睦。

荷葉式洗一般尺寸較小，北京故宮博物院收藏一白玉例，下承花梗，載於《華夏古玉．鑑賞篇》，卷12，香港，1997年，圖版82。另見一例，鮑氏收藏，花莖卷旋自葉心而發，圖載於 Pierre-F. Scheeberger，《The Baur Collection. Geneva. Chinese Jades and Other Hardstones》，日內瓦，1976年，圖版 B16。倫敦國立維多利亞與艾伯特博物館也藏一品，荷葉三片，添飾蓮蓬，載於 Ming Wilson，《Chinese Jades》，倫敦， 2004年，圖版63。

另一墨綠瑪瑙荷葉臥蛙小洗亦可相較，劍橋費茲威廉博物館所藏，載於林政昇，《The Immortal Stone. Chinese Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Twentieth Century》，劍橋，2009年，頁136（頁底中部）。