北齊 石灰石雕「瑞獸」龜跌基座一對

the grey limestone with remains of a white layer and pinkish buff pigment, each carved in the form of a recumbent mythical beast with a ferocious mythical dragon head and the body of a turtle, each crouching on its front paws with wide open jaws revealing sharp fangs and a long protruding curling tongue, all below a cleft lip and raised snout with flared nostrils, surmounted by large bulging eyes framed by squared brows delineated with incised lines tapering towards the back of the head, the sides of the head set with a pair of small round ears flanking a pair of horns, the back part carved with a turtle shell decorated with concentric hexagonal diaper arching around the tail, all below a flat angular platform hollowed with a circular and a square aperture to support columns or door posts

購於五十年代

水野清一，《中国の彫刻：石仏．金銅仏》，東京，1960年，頁47，圖111-112

The supports are in unusually good condition for their type, and are outstanding examples. Clearly an original pair, there is no structural weaknesses will here the pillars were held. There are general losses and bruises to the edges and surface, as visible in the catalogue illustration. Unusually, the original designs are intact. And there are traces of original pigments.
"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."

瑞獸形座基，如本品成對雕獅，通常用來馱負石碑台柱。可比一柱基例，作龍形瑞獸狀，雙尾纏繞，錄於 Ann Paludan，《The Chinese Spirit Road》，紐黑文及倫敦，1991年，頁75，圖版86－7；另見一龜形座基，上立石碑，同上註，頁74，圖版85，原出梁蕭秀墓（公元518年卒），現存江蘇南京甘家巷小學內。

年代略晚之動物形建築構件，可見一對砂岩雕瑞魚紋座基，售於紐約蘇富比2000年9月20日，編號58。另見兩獅首形柱基例，載於 Osvald Sirén，《Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century》，卷1，紐約，1970年，圖版434a、434b，前者屬巴黎 Octave Homberg 收藏，後者屬紐約私人收藏。