清乾隆 剔彩九龍寶盒 《大清乾隆年製》、《九龍寶盒》款

finely carved in various levels of relief with a frontal five-clawed dragon to the upper surface of the cover, pursuing a flaming pearl amongst trailing clouds, within a keyfret and lappet border, above a wide band of further dragons pursuing flaming pearls above a keyfret band, the box similarly carved with dragons above breaking waves, all on a yellow ground, the base with a six-character mark in gilt, the interior of the cover inscribed jiu long bao he (a treasured box of nine dragons)

This rare box has restoration to one ruyi cloud near to the tail of one of the dragons to the cover which runs to the rim and corresponds to a repaired area to the interior. There is also a restored crack to the interior of the cover, which does correspond to an area of the exterior. There is restoration to three key-fret to the rim and a small area of damage to the area of another key-fret of the cover. There are minor restorations, re-touchings and lacquer loss to the rim of the cover and some chips to lacquer the footrim of the box. There is some more minor restorations to the exterior of the box and cracking to the lacquer to the interior.
"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."

本盒紋飾繪九龍追逐火珠，精巧華麗，展現乾隆帝奢華品味，並證清高宗年間剔彩工藝成就。九龍鼻孔賁張，呲牙瞠目，雄健威猛，遊弋於雲海。本品雕工深邃，巧用三彩，更顯靈動立體，栩栩如生。

如此工藝紋飾，出自清宮造辦處漆器作坊，多於近足處刻乾隆年款及盒蓋底另刻款式，本品亦然。紐約大都會藝術博物館收藏一例，尺寸較小，圖見《East Asian Lacquer. The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection》，紐約，1991年，頁108，圖版108，作者論述，盒身款或與清宮檔案記錄相符。

比較一例，售於倫敦蘇富比1989年10月27日，編號177；香港佳士得亦售兩例，其一售於1989年1月16日，編號347，其二售於2003年10月27日，編號785。北京故宮博物院亦收藏一例，尺寸較小，乾隆年款並器，帶《雲龍寶盒》款，圖載於《故宮博物院藏雕漆》，北京，1985年，圖版316；另一例售於紐約佳士得2003年9月18日，編號79。