清乾隆 / 嘉慶 紫檀描金「昭文比德」蓋盒連仿古玉圖章八方

印文：《永壽》《秋水文章》《濯足弄滄》《醉中吟》《倬》《不知所如》《行雲流水》《□》

The box and cover are in overall good condition, with only some expected nicks to the edges, surface scratches and wear. The gilt has been generally well preserved. The silk linings are foxed, stained and torn. Similarly the seals have typical worn down nicks and bruises to the extremities, including a tiny bruise to one corner of the second seal. In particular, the 'drunk singing' seal have areas of nibbles to the edges, which are evident at the jagged border of the seal impression. The stones have some natural inclusions, veining and pitting.
"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."

一組八印，存原裝蓋盒，彰清人賞古惜古之心，殊為難得。採珍材紫檀，木紋細膩，柔光雅致。盒臺階式，下承矮足，依形挖槽以貯玉石印八方，盒蓋面陰刻填金隸書「昭文比德」四字。昭文，即顯揚文采，比德，則有同心同德之意。八方印，玉石質各異，有覆斗、靈龜、盤獸等鈕式，所鐫篆文佈局雖蘊秦漢銅璽古風，但印應仍清人仿古之作。如其中「永壽」印，覆斗式鈕，篆體佈局與明朝羅王常（1535-1607後）編《秦漢印統》所錄「永壽」印相類（圖一），推斷此章或依印譜為模，以古印為範。

乾隆帝好古尚雅，嘗集官將文士之金石古玉印，製盒存之。《印象深刻：院藏璽印展》圖錄中指，這些乾隆帝以為之漢印，實為據《秦漢印統》等集古印譜，明清年間後仿之作，國立故宮博物院，臺北，2007年，頁82。例如臺北故宮博物院藏乾隆年間木雕博古紋子母蓋盒，貯明末清初韞古玉印六方，印文多與《秦漢印統》相附。高宗珍其漢風古意，收集成盒，命製小冊，鈐印釋篆文，伴以御製水墨芝蘭，題字鈐印，紀年乾隆三十一（1766），見《十全乾隆：清高宗的藝術品味特展》，國立故宮博物院，臺北，2013年，編號III-2.25或《印象深刻》，頁83，後書另錄「集成契賞」一組八印，貯木雕嵌寶蓋盒，見頁82，以及「虹文薈古」四層木盒與其所貯玉印、印譜，每屜依印大小挖槽以貯二十方印，四屜原共存八十方印，其中有與此相類之「永壽」印一枚，見頁84-5。

清臣于敏中（1714-79）等在「虹文薈古」冊題跋，道：「皇上幾餘考古，國史之外，兼及印章，屢以內府所藏秦漢玉印，命臣等考其與印統合者，彙而登之……勅付校勘……凡二十各依其類而序之，都為一篋……今所集，名可考者從其名，名不可考從其製，皆古質黝然如夏鼎商彝，一望而知為三代法物，陳之璧府，亦足為稽古之一助云。」可見高宗餘暇涉足印章，且命文臣與《印統》所錄比較，加以考證，裝匣製冊。高宗且嘗撰《清內府藏古玉印》，選錄宮藏印章。除玉石印外，清宮並藏銅印逾一千五百枚，例有「守官遺范」及「金薤留珍」匣等（同上註，頁78-81），然「玉章較銅尤為寶重」，秦漢印風之章，尤以玉質為貴，詳見梁國治（1723-86）與董誥（1740-1818）「集成契賞」冊跋，圖見頁82。

宮中集諸印共貯一匣之習，早於清初已有。例有康熙佩文齋十二組璽，法國家族舊藏，售於香港佳士得2003年7月7日，編號535，匣糊錦面，配象牙牌子，細刻各璽印文，與近售於香港蘇富比2015年4月7日，編號102「雍正御筆之寶」蓋盒樣式相類。嘉慶諸寶也多存匣內。據《清仁宗御製詩餘集》卷一，「或從其文之類，或因其地之宜，每匣蓋用正書標識，皆以紫檀為質」，詳見《故宮經典：明清帝后寶璽》，北京，2008年，頁250。例如一匣七方組璽，七方印，或瓦鈕、或盤螭，紫檀蓋盒子母口，蓋面陰刻描金，詳列印文，盒臺階式，依印之大小尺寸挖方槽，下承四足，與此品相類，見同書圖版212（圖二）。