清乾隆 粉彩鏤空開光四季花卉紋象耳轉心瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

superbly potted with a pear-shaped body rising from a splayed foot to a waisted neck and flared rim, the exterior of the revolving body delicately painted in shaded pastel tones of pink, yellow, green and blue with lotus blooms and buds issuing from scrolling foliage with undulating vines and tendrils, all reserved on a white ground, the bulging body reticulated with four medallions, each enclosing a luscious garden scene denoting the cycle of four seasons and detailed with an iron-red balustrade, one panel with pale pink and yellow peonies borne on gnarled branches emerging from jagged rockwork symbolising spring, another with fruiting and flowering pomegranates evoking summer, another with cotton rose hibiscus blossoms representing autumn, the other with a gnarled prunus tree issuing yellow and pink blossoms standing for winter, the waisted neck flanked by a pair of elephant-head handles, below a band of stylised trefoil motifs and a border of trefoil petal lappets encircling the rim, all above an upright yellow lappet border enclosing pink small florets, the splayed foot decorated with a pendent plantain lappet border reserved against a pink ground, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark

A crescent-shaped section of the foot, covering half of the outer circumference of the footring (approx. 34 cm) with the shorter inner side measuring approx. 30 cm, has been broken and restuck with old rivet marks. There are two firing haircracks to the base. The longer one slightly curved, with an associated hairline extending to approx. 16.5 cm from the foot to one side, and an approx. 17.5 cm corresponding firing line shown on the base adjacent to the restuck crescent, while the other end of approx. 11 cm extending from the base but does not pass through to the exterior. The shorter firing line is only visible on the interior, measuring approx. 18 cm from the raised knob. The pomegranate panel has a small chip to one leaf (see catalogue p. 15). The turquoise enamel to the interior of the upper section and the base has been erased. There are also some surface scratches (largest one of approx. 6 cm long above the magnolia panel), in addition to some typical crackles and flakes to the enamels (biggest flake of approx. 1 cm to the lotus on the neck).
"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."

瓷瓶鏤空開光，意為從中窺探內瓶繪飾，以達觀有限而意無窮之妙。鏤空套瓶，僅製於乾隆初年，成品罕稀。乾隆帝喜奇好新，大興精品巧作。時唐英出任景德鎮御窰督陶官，致力研創奇巧之品，以悅君心。在其監督下所製官窰器，塑形、繪飾、施釉、髹彩、燒製，一絲不苟，藝巧技絕，鬼斧神工。

鏤空套瓶，形飾五花八門。此品器形大方，繪飾繽紛，白地畫纏枝洋花，枝草卷蔓，佈局疏密均宜，華麗堂皇。開光妙綴透雕四季園景，別出心裁，彷彿花間庭中，月洞門後驟見秀石繁花。

北京故宮博物院清宮舊藏粉彩象耳玲瓏瓶，與此器形同，也飾透雕庭院景致圓形開光，圖見《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．琺瑯彩．粉彩》，香港，1999年，圖版155。故宮象耳瓶，色調搭配與此有別，腹部黃地軋道，頸足胭脂紅地，也密飾纏枝洋花，肩有篆書甲子萬年干支，轉而相配。其粉彩嬰戲圖內瓶尚存，自透雕開光窺之，彷彿倚窗觀園，清木佳石、樹立花開，孩童嬉遊其中，好不熱鬧。本品內瓶惜已佚，但見故宮藏例，或可猜其一二。

尺寸相若之乾隆鏤空大器，尚可參考醬釉地粉彩鏤空瓜果六角套瓶，售於香港蘇富比2000年5月2日，編號639，原與放山居舊藏瓶成對，後者曾先後入 Loch 及 Margadale 勛爵寶蓄，售於香港蘇富比1988年5月18日，編號272，後入台北鴻禧美術館。醬釉地粉彩對瓶，飾與本瓶相類之鏤空開光，唯內綴纏枝果紋，間飾靈芝，隙間可窺內瓶青花；對瓶底署六字青花篆款，款式亦與本品同。

台北故宮博物院藏粉彩玲瓏套瓶，附青花仿明蓮紋內瓶，據清檔，乾隆八年（1743）上呈高宗。長頸膽瓶式，下腹冬青地鏤雕描金蟠螭，色近龍泉青釉，頸部繪卷枝洋花，綴飾繁密，錦繡華風與本品類同，詳見廖寶秀，《華麗彩瓷－乾隆洋彩》，台北，2008年，圖版68。