金至元 鈞窰月白釉鏤空八佛八方供器

skilfully and sturdily potted with tapering sides rising to a flat border encircling a circular bowl-shaped cavity, each sloping side fashioned with a cusped opening revealing a seated Buddhist figure with rudimentary outlines on the interior simulating a niche, covered overall save for the unglazed base with a pale milky-blue glaze draining to a light mushroom tone at the edges and extremities, the unglazed base centred with a circular opening and burnt orange-brown in the firing

安思遠，紐約，1999年

《博古存珍：敏求精舍金禧紀念展》，香港藝術館，香港，2010-11年，編號106

The bottom section of this rare altar vessel had been broken into three parts with the original pieces restuck. Associated cracks with overpainting are visible, five of the Buddhist figures and the edge of one cusped opening (1.3 cm) have been sympathetically restored which would benefit from professional improvement. There is a 3-branch stained hairline running horizontally (8 cm) on the upper side of the vessel, and another faint hairline (3 cm) running from the base up the body. The top of the vessel with some minor glaze flakes (largest 0.3 by 0.4 cm) near the rim. There is general glaze wear/loss to the concave centre, probably from use.
"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."

此類八方供器甚為罕見，僅知一相似鈞窰作例，可資比較，屬大維德爵士雅蓄，現貯於大英博物館，倫敦，出版於 S. Yorke Hardy，《Illustrated Catalogue of Tung, Ju, Kuan, Chün, Kuang-tung & Glazed I-hsing Wares》，倫敦，1953年，圖版A51，於此，編者亦提及一類例，為 Grandidier 舊藏，現存巴黎吉美國立亞洲藝術博物館。

論器形、飾樣，本品揉合不同風尚，卻又別具一格。此器形最早見於唐代瓷硯，側壁鏤空開光內飾佛塔龕內常見塑像，應乃故時佛具。

此類器形最早燒造於宋代陝西耀州窰，參見一宋代類例，錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集：兩宋瓷器（上）》，香港，1996年，圖版96。銅川縣黃堡鎮耀州窰遺址出土另一相類供器，載於《耀州窰》，西安，1992年，頁60下。