明末 德化白瓷觀世音菩薩坐像 《何朝宗印》款

skillfully modelled as Guanyin, seated on a rajalilasana on a base with a striated border, the poised figure depicted clad in a loose robe opening at the chest and cascading in voluminous folds around the base with the right foot partially exposed, the figure elegantly rendered with a benevolent and peaceful expression flanked by long pendulous earlobes and surmounted by neatly drawn-up hair secured with a ruyi-shaped pin beneath a draped cowl, the reverse impressed with a He Chaozong yin seal mark within a square, covered overall save for the base with a translucent warm glaze of creamy-white tone

Karl Frithiof Dahl（1869-1952年）收藏

This delicately carved figure is in overall good condition, except for a few small refilled chips to the deity's big toe and the right edge of the robe (approx. 1 and 1.3 cm), in addition to other expected minute nicks to the extremities. The figure also has some typical firing cracks, a few of which retouched.
"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."

本尊德化窰何朝宗款觀音像，雙眼微闔，笑容安詳，雕刻精細入微，完美定格其深入禪思之境。何朝宗可堪最具技藝之德化瓷塑家之一，其確切生卒年代原不為人知，只粗略知曉其活躍於晚明至康熙時期，後經學者研究，其生活於十六世紀晚期至十七世紀上半葉。何朝宗之記載，初見於乾隆二十八年（1763年）刊刻的《泉州府志》中〈明．藝術〉一章，言其善陶瓷像。傳世見兩尊紀年何朝宗款觀音菩薩坐像，亦可證其活躍於晚明時期：例一紀年萬曆戊午（1618年），為 Robert H. Blumenfield 典藏，並錄於其著作《Blanc de Chine: The Great Porcelain of Dehua》，柏克萊， 2002年，頁164。例二紀年乙未（1619年），錄於《Blanc de Chine: Divine Images in Porcelain》，China Institute Gallery，紐約，2002年，編號25，後售於紐約蘇富比2007年3月19日，編號770。

此類德化窰白瓷觀音坐像例，單膝跪坐，雙手藏於袖中，於北京故宮博物院可見兩尊，均錄於《故宮經典：故宮觀音圖典》，故宮博物院，北京，2012年，編號176及177。另參一類例，刊於 Robert H. Blumenfield，《Blanc de Chine: The Great Porcelain of Dehua》，前述出處，頁132。C.A. Wiessing 珍藏中且有一尊，載於《Blanc de Chine》，S. Marchant & Son，倫敦，2006年，圖版3。此外，另有一尊，售於阿姆斯特丹佳士得1986年6月9日，編號154。

於法國吉美國立亞洲藝術博物館，可見一何朝宗款德化白瓷觀音坐像，雙腿盤坐，圖見於《Oriental Ceramics. The World’s Great Collections》，東京，1981年，卷7，彩圖31。另外，再可參一尊觀音像，載於《Blanc de Chine: Divine Images in Porcelain》，前述出處，編號34。