AN EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF IMPERIAL CLOISONNE ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE FIGURES OF TAPIRS MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG |

each outstandingly cast in the form of a tapir dynamically standing foursquare on its gilt-bronze hooves, the beast rendered with muscular contours and a tapering tail tucked between its haunches, the head brilliantly rendered with alert eyes below a pair of upright ears, each defined with a concave centre, the rounded and prominent snout depicted agape and revealing its teeth, the neck collared with a gilt-bronze band finely adorned with a classical scroll, the back of the hollow figure with a teardrop-shaped hinged aperture framing a four-character reign mark within a square, all superbly decorated with a glistening speckled bluish-green enamel against fine wires delicately forming flame scroll motifs all over the muscular body of the beast

The tapirs are in very good condition with just minute surface wear and insignificant rubbing to the gilding.
"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."

乾隆御製掐絲琺瑯工藝品，以瑞獸為形之類品級最高。此對犧尊實乃佳例，軀肢雄健，纖毫栩栩，身形欲動，神采奕奕。所施工藝卓犖超倫，琺瑯精美，掐絲巧麗，通身紋飾明燦如熛焰，為求華貴不吝資財。二尊皆保存善好，背開圓洞，鈕蓋無缺，蓋上銘「乾隆年製」四字款。完好已屬不易，然匹配成雙更顯難得，存世僅知此一對。比一犧尊，孑然獨立，形貌、工藝與此對如出一轍，清宮舊藏，仍貯北京，錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．金屬胎琺瑯器》，香港，2002年，編號120（圖一），該書有言，此類形制惟妙惟肖，為仿古塑像之上乘傑作。前例亦曾展於《中國藝術國際展覽會》，英國皇家藝術學院，倫敦，1935年，刊於《參加倫敦中國藝術國際展覽會出品圖說》，上海，1936年，圖版7。

另有形制，較為常見，比一天祿神獸，背馱一尊，藏台北故宮博物院，身下銘四字乾隆年款，載於《明清琺瑯器展覽圖錄》，台北，1999年，編號43；史博曼雅藏且有一麒麟背瓶，售於香港蘇富比2018年4月3日，編號3463。拍賣所見之乾隆年款掐絲琺瑯獸形器仍有若干，如一臥虎，原為查理．喬治．戈登將軍寶蓄，售於倫敦佳士得1994年12月5日，編號259，後由 Peter Moores 爵士之手釋出，售於倫敦蘇富比2011年11月9日，編號400；另見一對掐絲琺瑯鳧壺，Juan Jose Amezaga 舊藏，售於巴黎佳士得2007年6月13日，編號24。