清十八世紀 犀角雕「蒼林駿馬」圖盃

superbly carved in openwork and deep relief with a herd of horses in the pasture, one side with three horses standing amid a variety of trees including wutong, willow and pine, watched by two grooms standing behind a rocky outcrop forming the handle, the reverse with two further horses standing behind rocks while another rolls on its back near the base, all below jagged cliffs and a rising moon in the distance, the interior similarly carved in openwork with a gnarled pine branch issuing from the rocky crags, the horn richly patinated to a deep chestnut colour

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The mouthrim has an area of approx. 2.5 cm to which has been restored and retouched, possibly to conceal small losses. There are some chips and age cracks, especially to extremities and the wutong tree on the right of the grooms (with old stabilisation). A section of approx. 0.8 by 1 cm of the foot has been restored.
"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."

此盃所雕圖案，幽雅愉悅，飽含寓意。畫馬，求其力與美，雍容華貴之態，稱頌其自由率意之品格，皆於此盃展露無遺。依照傳統，「馬」常與仕途抱負相關聯，而駿馬逍遙閑逸，則暗喻遠離仕途、心境自在。本品圖案亦表士大夫對於仕途剛正不阿的堅守，其創思靈感或源於著名畫作，現藏台北國立故宮博物院之趙孟頫《調良圖》，錄於高居翰，《Hills Beyond a River》，紐約、東京，1976年，圖版8。此類馬夫與馬題材尤為盛行，早見於宋代畫作，如李公麟《五馬圖》卷，同上註，圖版88。

犀角盃雕刻馬紋實為罕見，一件「穆王八駿圖」盃，屬霍滿棠藏，錄於霍滿棠編，《中國犀角雕刻珍賞》，香港，1999年，圖版168，文中述及此盃為難得之佳作。另有一盃，飾溪岸牧馬圖，題「尤侃」款，售於紐約蘇富比2007年3月19日，編號374；亦見一例，藏於愛爾蘭都柏林切斯特比替圖書館，載於 Jan Chapman，《中國的犀牛角雕刻藝術》，倫敦，1999年，圖版238。另比一例，精雕二馬，嬉戲於蔥翠樹堤間，屬克里夫蘭 Kenyon V. Painter 舊藏，售於紐約蘇富比2007年9月18日，編號10；亦宜比較一件明末清初犀角雕柳下高士駿馬圖盃，售於倫敦佳士得2011年11月8日，編號12。