清十七 / 十八世紀 芙蓉石雕觀音坐像 《周彬拜製》款

the warm cream-coloured stone carved in the form of Guanyin depicted seated regally, with the right foot partially exposed and the right leg raised supporting the hands, one of which is holding rosary beads, her face rendered with a serene expression below neatly drawn back hair and a tall cowl, dressed in long flowing robes cascading into voluminous folds with the chest exposed, the hems of the robes and cowl bordered with finely incised scrollwork, ruyi and dragon bands, the fabric further depicted with soaring dragons and phoenix, the reverse incised with a four-character inscription reading Zhou Bin bai zhi, resting on an oval dark mahogany-brown and red soapstone base delicately incised with a stylised border within a floral diapered frieze, the detail picked out in black and red pigments

Nagatani, Inc，芝加哥，伊利諾伊州，1973年
Robert B. Mayer 伉儷收藏，Winnetka，伊利諾伊州
紐約佳士得2013年9月20日，編號1760

There are shallow chips to the extremities, the most prominent measuring approx. 2 cm to the hem of her robe, another approx. 0.8 cm to the cowl, and a small chip to the big toe. There are also slight losses to the pigment. A residue of adhesive is visible - possibly securing the figure to the base, under which expected scratches are visible.
"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."

十七至十八世紀，以芙蓉石及它類壽山石雕觀音及諸神像，精雕細琢，工藝超凡。同類觀音，可比一例， 先後為 Marcel Lorber 及瑪麗與莊智博遞藏，錄於 Paul Moss，《Between Heaven and Earth. Secular and Divine Figural Images in Chinese Paintings》，倫敦，1988年，編號58，售於紐約佳士得2007年9月19日，編號56。亦見一楊玉璇製白芙蓉雕觀音例，售於香港蘇富比2001年10月29日，編號692。

周彬，字尚均，原籍福建漳州，方宗珪曾於《壽山石誌》（福州，1982年，頁77-78）中道，周彬「尚以中國畫寫意法，深刀刻山水、花卉、松竹等景物」，「向為藝界所器重」。尚均作品，除見有印章，還有成組小羅漢像，常見盤坐於精緻墊枕或石上。一些此類作品得以留存於世，可見一例，載曾柱昭（Gerard Tsang）及莫士撝（Hugh Moss），《文玩萃珍》，香港大學馮平山博物館，香港，1986年，編號744。另有一周彬製伏獅羅漢，為水松石山房舊藏，售於香港蘇富比2012年4月4日，編號136。其他周彬作品亦包括一件北京國家歷史博物館藏羅漢像，錄於《中國文物精華大全：金銀玉石卷》，香港，1994年，頁83，圖版242。一件田黃雕彌勒像，藏於北京故宮博物院，刊《中國美術全集》，卷6，北京，1988年，圖版158。還有一件白芙蓉雕彌勒像，售於香港邦瀚斯2011年5月25日，編號208。