明嘉靖 青花雲龍紋朝珠盒 《大明嘉靖年製》款

with cylindrical sides boldly painted in bright cobalt-blue tones, depicting five-clawed dragons striding amongst undulating leafy lotus scrolls, their sinuous bodies carefully picked out with scales, the top of the slightly domed cover similarly painted with two further dragons striding amidst a lotus meander, their mouths agape revealing sharp fangs and their manes billowing behind, the muscular legs terminating in powerful claws, all divided by double line borders, inscribed to one side of the cover with a rectangular cartouche enclosing a six-character reign mark

徐氏藝術館，香港
紐約佳士得1997年9月18日，編號155

藤岡了一，《世界陶磁全集》，卷14，東京，1976年，頁214，圖57
《Beauty and Tranquillity: The Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art》，印第安納波利斯美術館，印第安納波利斯，1983年，頁256，圖a
《徐氏藝術館》，香港，1991年，圖版81

The box is in overall good condition except one shallow glaze flake (0.3cm) to the edge of the top and minute nicks/bruises to the rims. The base of the box with some minor firing lines. Light fritting characteristic of the period.
"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."

朝珠盒為嘉慶朝新創，為達官權貴專用，器型獨特，甚為珍罕。耿寶昌，《明清瓷器鑒定》，香港，1993年，圖233之3，筆者稱此盒為串鈴盒，因形似串鈴而得名。顧名思義，此類盒為存放朝服珮飾如朝珠等珍貴容器，以確保珍貴飾物不易破損。

明嘉靖年間，景德鎮瓷匠致力發展、研發窰燒技術，使之式樣繁多。本品尺寸、器型奇特碩大，為當代新品種。此類盒均模製成形。同類器唯見兩例著錄，一曾展於《黃鼎軒特展》，高雄市立歷史博物館，1999年，編號36。另一例為 Eli Lilly 舊藏，售於紐約蘇富比1993年6月1、2日，編號306。

羅傑基金舊藏一同帶嘉靖年款，但飾仙人紋飾，現藏紐約大都會美術館，錄於 Suzanne G. Valenstein，《A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics》，紐約， 1989年，圖版168。另一繪仙鶴把掛紋，錄於馬希桂，《美哉陶瓷：青花名瓷》，台北，1993年，圖版53。一青花礬紅例，繪仙人紋飾，屬 Eli Lilly 收藏，展於《Beauty and Tranquillity: The Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art》，印第安納波利斯美術館，印第安納波利斯，1983年，編號102，本品被著錄為對比品，見頁256，圖a。

串鈴式蓋盒，同見於漆器，一尺寸稍小之例，定為明萬曆朝作品，售於紐約蘇富比1983年6月15日。