AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'ROSETTE' MOONFLASK, BIANHU MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD |

modelled after a Middle Eastern metal prototype, the flattened spherical body rising to a waisted neck and a small bulb-shaped mouth, set with two elegantly arched strap handles ending in a leaf-shaped terminal, freely painted in deep tones of cobalt accented with 'heaping and piling', the domed circular front and back with a formal rosette centred by a yin-yang medallion within a ring of petal lappets, surrounded by a radiating eight-pointed starburst of alternating foliate and floral motifs, the larger leaves dotted at the apex, all within a formal 'half-cash' diaper border around the edge, the upper bulb picked out with a narrow band of asters and carnations between double-line borders repeated at the rim and a single fillet collaring the neck, the handles outlined with double lines and decorated with a spray of lotus at the terminus, above two blue lines running down the narrow sides, covered overall with a glossy glaze of fine, smooth texture, the low rounded square foot ring left unglazed

倫敦蘇富比1978年12月12日，編號380

The piece is in exceptional condition. There are occasional glaze crackles characteristic of the period and some very light staining to the glaze on the lower right hand part of the flask on on side.
"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."

此青花葫蘆扁壺，造型及紋飾之創造靈感源自中東地區，開中國瓷器新風尚。所繪寶相輪花，或與中東頗有淵源，唯口沿下一圈纏枝花卉與雙耳下方之折枝花卉為中國紋樣。幾何紋飾規整嚴謹，搭配花卉溫婉流麗，更添氣韻與美感。 有一相類青花葫蘆扁壺，2015年5月30日在香港佳士得拍出，編號1451，後再於香港蘇富比易手，2013年10月8日，編號222。香港蘇富比另有一例，售於1981年11月24日，編號79。伊斯坦堡托普卡比宮殿博物館另藏一相類扁壺，尺寸略小，圖見康蕊君，《Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul》，John Ayers 編，倫敦，1986年，卷2，編號616。另見上海博物館藏例，錄於《青花磁器展》，松屋銀座，東京，1988年，編號16。亦有一例，曾屬靜觀堂及黃鼎軒雅藏，錄於《好古敏求：敏求精舍三十五週年紀念展》，香港藝術館，香港，1995年，編號124，售於香港蘇富比1991年10月29日，編號29，後兩次售於香港佳士得1996年11月3日，編號545，以及2006年11月28日，編號1512。相近扁瓶還有一例，售於巴黎蘇富比2009年12月18日，編號65。

雙耳扁壺之式，究其根、追其源，可上溯至埃及陶製器皿，始燒於十八王朝（約公元前1543-1292年），此後風行數百年未竭。六至七世紀期間，在羅馬帝國治下，基督教虔徒前往埃及亞歷山大港附近之聖米納斯墓朝拜，獲當地陶製扁壺，是為紀念品，盛以聖水或油，因而此類埃及陶器，得「聖米納斯壺（St Menas flask）」之名。幾乎與此同時，埃及扁壺或隨粟特商人傳入，中土始見類例，並首現陶質鉛釉仿品。至永樂年間，景德鎮瓷匠慕其雅、倣其式，卻巧思獨運，芳菲寫意襯豐盈，輪花細謹展迭棱，終成當朝典範。

扁壺妙繪輪花，圖案幾何抽象規謹，洋溢中東藝風，有別於中國常見紋樣，其嶄新之處，歎為觀止，昔時想必在一眾寫生紋樣中脫穎而出。然器口環繪雛菊石竹，連枝繾綣，綬帶雙耳並綴折枝小花，輕盈和美，相對輪花之細謹，隨性寫意，暗渙傳統雅韻。中外藝風共蘊一器，柔硬並蓄，相得益彰。

明初青花御瓷，也有於器心或外壁繪相類輪花者，北京故宮博物院藏四永樂盌例，圖見耿寶昌，《故宮博物院藏明初青花瓷》，北京，2002年，卷1，圖版61-64。