明嘉靖 剔紅雕漆錦地「荔枝」圖高足盃

the bowl with deep rounded sides rising to an everted rim, raised on a splayed stem and flat base, deeply carved in varied relief against a floral diaper ground, the exterior with two sprigs of lychee naturalistically detailed with gnarled stalks and furled leaves, one suspended from the key-fret border encircling the mouthrim and bearing three fruits, the other growing from the row of mallow petals skirting the base and yielding four other fruits, their skin variously textured with different diaper patterns, the stem wrapped with a sprig of lingzhi above a border of halved floral diapers surrounding the foot, the interior and base lacquered in dark brown

There is an old 4 x 1.5 cm chip to the foot that has been restored with some brown re-lacquering on the base. There appears to be a restoration at the joint between the cup and the foot which may indicate that these were separated and re-affixed. The foot is decorated with lingzhi and the cup with lychee which could also indicate that although the two elements are contemporary, the stem would in fact be associated to the cup. There are small chips (including two chips of approx. 2.2 x 0.5 cm and 1.8 x 0.5 cm respectively) and stabilized fritting on the rim, with further old typical brown re-lacquering applied around the circumference of the rim. The condition otherwise is quite good and consistent with the age of the cup.
"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."

此類荔枝紋器，屬瑞果紋漆雕之列。其果紋表面，以常見於襯底圖案之菱格裝飾，尤見於荔枝。比較一對紋飾相近盌例，形類此盃，展於《Im Zeichen des Drachen》，漆器藝術博物館，明斯特，2006年，編號60。另有一盌，售於倫敦蘇富比1992年12月8日，編號26。亦見同類荔枝紋小圓盒例，現藏北京故宮博物院，載於《你應該知道的200件雕漆》，北京，2008年，圖版41。也對比一嘉靖剔紅印泥蓋盒，售於香港蘇富比2012年4月4日，編號3011；以及另一剔紅例，呈扁圓形，直壁平蓋，錄於《East Asian Lacquer. The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection》，大都會藝術博物館，紐約，1991年，編號40。

各類裝飾圖案及形制，材質變化多樣，足見內廷各作之間交流頻繁。如見一圓形直壁荔枝紋小玉盒，近似前述 Irving 漆器例，屬知柔齋藏，錄於《Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing》，Asia House Gallery，紐約，1980年，編號115。