清乾隆 青花釉裏紅「佛獅戲球」圖蒜頭瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

the compressed globular body supported on a splayed foot, rising to a tall waisted neck with a garlic-form mouth and lipped rim, painted in underglaze-red and blue with three Buddhist lions, each detailed with large bulging eyes, flared nostrils, tightly coiled mane and a bushy tail, variously depicted playing a beribboned brocade ball amidst flame wisps, one crouching with its head turned backward eyeing the ball, the other with its paw resting on the ball, and one lying on its back batting the ball into the air, all below an underglaze-blue floral scroll reserved against a copper-red fish-roe ground between two raised filets, the neck variously encircled by bands of lotus sprigs, lingzhi scroll and pendent trefoil leaves divided by raised fillets, the garlic-head mouth moulded and painted with a band of broad upright lotus lappets, encircled at the foot with upright lappets, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark

（傳）紐約遺產

There is a small 1.2 cm narrow polished frit on the rim and a few expected light scratches to the surface glaze. There is some light minor bubbling on the tail of one of the lion. Otherwise the vase is in very 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."

上海博物館藏與此相近但尺寸略大之瓶，圖見於汪慶正，《青花釉裏紅》，香港，1993年，圖版181。靜觀堂舊藏也見一例，後售於香港佳士得1999年11月2日，編號601。有一尺寸較小之瓶，則售於香港蘇富比1977年11月27日，編號194，載於《天民樓藏瓷》，香港，1987，圖版113。另可參考器形略異之例，如香港蘇富比2002年5月7日售出之蒜頭瓶（編號581），同飾佛獅戲球，然瓶腹上歛下寬，近於荸薺之形，且器頸飾仰蕉葉及單弦紋。相類器亦曾售於香港佳士得1990年10月8日，編號482。

此類佛獅戲球蒜頭瓶，包括現拍品，皆署獨特之篆款，其中「乾」字左中部均以「田」代「日」。耿寶昌於《明清瓷器鑑定》，香港，1993年，頁344 中提出，此書款方式屬乾隆早期唐英仍任景德鎮督陶官時之風格。耿氏在書中指此款還見於北京故宮博物院藏青花釉裏紅喜鵲海水印盒、上海博物館藏粉彩唐英題詩筆筒及廣東省博物館藏青花隸書詩文筆筒。

佛獅戲繡球圖，始見於明初青花瓷，例如永樂青花罐，圖刊於康蕊君，《玫茵堂中國陶瓷》，卷4，倫敦，2010年，編號1643，後兩度售於香港蘇富比，分別為1999年11月1日，編號312，以及2011年4月7日，編號51。佛獅戲球乃威武權力的象徵，寓意祥瑞，寄平步青雲的佳願。