清乾隆 銅鑄雙耳「逐珠雲龍」圖三足爐 《大清乾隆年製》款

the globular body resting on three baluster legs issuing from grinning masks and flanked by pierced upright 'S'-shaped handles, crisply cast in high relief with three five-clawed dragons writhing amid clouds in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl', two striding on each side with a scaly undulating body emitting flames, the third depicted en face, sharply writhing with outstretched limbs in a ferocious pose, below a band of pendent petal lappets around the shoulder and striding dragons encircling the galleried rim, the handles similarly cast with en face or striding dragons on the front and sides, the base cast with a six-character mark within a recessed panel, the bronze patinated to an attractive golden brown colour

There are traces of malachite encrustations on the interior and a few dents around the mouth rim. The handles are loosely attached to the body, but overall the censer is in good condition.
"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."

此爐器形誇張奪目，紋飾華麗，體現乾隆朝之權威莊嚴。器形仿古青銅鼎，取自東周禮器，上飾象徵皇權之雲龍紋，造就乾隆之獨特風格。朝天耳初見於宋朝。此爐雙朝天耳，向兩側張延伸展，生氣勃勃，其流麗線條，修飾扁圓爐身，配搭妙哉。器上游龍製作縝細，焰火自龍身而發，祥雲迴繞，表現其無上之權力。

如斯香爐乃五供之一，用於祭典儀式，以其威嚴碩大之姿，強調場面之隆重鼎盛。此類五供為皇城內寺廟而設，多為皇帝所供造。有一成套五供，除與本品近似之香爐，還包括仿古壺及燭台各一對，原出自 Robert H. Clague 收藏，現藏於鳳凰城美術館，曾展於《China’s Renaissance in Bronze》，鳳凰城美術館，鳳凰城，1994年，編號38。另一套相似五供，售於香港蘇富比2008年4月11日，編號2826。位於紫禁城慈寧宮花園內之咸若館，設有一套五供，素面無紋，刊錄於《清代宮廷生活》，香港，1985年，頁299，圖版467。

除龍紋外，此類禮器亦有鳳紋作例，或為乾隆帝之母孝聖憲皇后所供造。該類例子可見 Alfred Morrison 舊藏之青銅壺，售於倫敦佳士得2004年11月9日，編號17。另有一對御製青銅器，上鑄龍鳳紋，為圓明園樓閣而製，曾三度售於香港蘇富比，最近一次為2007年10月9日，編號1322。

此類浮雕青銅器，熔鑄冷卻後以精工斧鑿雕製，以求細節分明、精巧入微，媲美剔紅雕漆，清晰俐落（詳見《China’s Renaissance in Bronze》，前述出處，頁185）。