明初 鈞窰天藍釉鼓釘三足水仙盆 《四》字款

the rounded sides supported on three ruyi-shaped feet, encircled by a band of studs repeated between raised ribs on the slightly incurved rim, the fine purplish-blue glaze mottled overall in pale milky-blue and draining around the rim, on the raised studs and on the feet to a mushroom colour, the interior suffused with 'worm tracks', the flat base applied with a brown wash and with a ring of small spur marks, incised with the Chinese numeral si 'four'

W. Kilgenberg博士收藏，波恩
Reach家族收藏
香港佳士得1997年4月28日，編號696
香港蘇富比2000年5月2日，編號590

《Chinese Art from the Reach Family Collection》，Eskenazi，倫敦，1989年，編號24

This rare bowl is in good condition with the exception of two short hairline rims cracks circa 1 and 2cm., (as illustrated in the catalogue at 12 and 7 o'clock), and minor glaze firing imperfections including light glaze crazing, a tiny burst glaze bubble at the rim, and very 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."

此類鈞窰水仙盆，乃宮廷御作瓷器中至為重要、最具特色之品類之一。清宮舊藏一例，天藍釉與本品相近，窰燒前刻《一》字款，後落《養心殿長春書屋用》款，現藏北京，圖見《鈞瓷雅集：故宮博物院珍藏及出土鈞窰瓷器薈萃》，故宮博物院，北京，2013，編號115。

鈞瓷釉彩天藍濃艷多變，亮澤迷人，製於宋明兩朝河南鈞州（今名禹州或禹縣），出品包括少量花盆，本品即為其一，窰燒前刻數字款，由一至十，與盆及底座大小相應，一為最大，十為最小，故稱數字款鈞瓷。

過往學者多認為帶數字款之鈞瓷製於北宋，近年則較多斷代早明。此類器未見於明代以前著作或書畫，器型與早明青釉花盆相近。比較一例，曾展於《景德鎮出土明宣德官窰瓷器》，鴻禧美術館，台北，1998年，圖版39。學界多以一出土於鈞窰遺址，帶宋徽宗 （1100-1126在位）宣和年號之錢幣模作根據。然而，該模刻款風格，異於宣和元寶錢幣真品。此外，根據上海博物館熱釋光測試，此組盆製作時期遠遲於北宋。

此類鈞瓷，僅見於世界各大博物館及私人收藏；台北故宮博物院收藏兩例，同銘《四》字款，圖見《故宮宋瓷圖錄．汝窰 官窰 鈞窰》，台北，1973年，圖版64及66，同書並載兩例，銘《一》字款圖版65及67，後者為月白釉；另可參考一例，出自Harcourt Johnstone and Enid and Brodie Lodge收藏，售於香港蘇富比1996年4月30日，編號306。東京出光美術館收藏一例，尺寸較大，圖見《中國陶磁：出光美術館藏品圖錄》，東京，1987年，圖版104；再比一例，趙從衍舊藏，售於香港蘇富比1987年5月19日，編號210。