宋 白玉透雕鷺鷥蓮紋爐頂

with a rounded upper outline and a design of nine egrets amidst dense clusters of curling stalks issuing lotus pods, blooms and leaves, some birds rendered standing, some swooping downwards, the stone of a pale greyish-white colour highlighted with russet streaks

There are small chips to the edges of the carving, including two to the tip of a petal near the top of the finial (the largest measuring approx 2 cm to the edge of a petal on the unillustrated side), some sections possibly polished. There are also minor bruises and nicks to the edges, especially to the leaves on the unillustrated side. The catalogue illustration is a tinge redder than the actual colour of the stone.
"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."

爐頂白玉帶皮，扁圓柱形，通景鏤雕鷺鷥蓮塘圖。荷枝高壯茂盛，荷花、蓮蓬、荷葉交錯纏繞，九隻鷺鷥隱現其間。鷺鷥形態各異，或立或飛，栩栩如生。

此器鏤雕層次豐富繁縟，畫意盎然，立體感強，可見巧匠之鬼斧神工。

此爐頂飾九隻鷺鷥，意義深遠。古人用九隻鷺鷥入畫，寓儒家「九思」之美意。《論語．季氏篇第十六》孔子曰：「君子有九思：視思明，聽思聰，色思溫，貌思恭，言思忠，事思敬，疑思問，忿思難，見得思義」。以此紋飾體現君子道德修養的規限，常思考反省，使之合於禮義，頗見匠心。

乾隆御製詩＜詠宋做玉爐頂＞有曰：「刻畫為圖斯鼻祖，後人端是讓前人」。