明嘉靖 青花開光式「嬰戲圖」執壺 《大明嘉靖年製》款

the compressed globular body rising from a straight foot to a waisted neck and galleried rim, set with a loop handle and a curved spout, the front and back face moulded with a peach-shaped panel, one painted with four boys and a ram and the other with four boys holding various attributes including a peony flower and a hobby horse, all surrounded by detached fruiting and flowering branches, the rim encircled by a chevron band, decorated with classic scrolls on the handle and spout, the base with a six-character mark

Marchant，倫敦
徐展堂收藏，在望山莊，編號MB 739

Audrey Wang，《Chinese Antiquities. An Introduction to the Art Market》，倫敦，2012年，圖版17及封面

The ewer has a restoration to an old 28cm., wide horizontal rivetted crack running from the handle through the peach-shaped panel to the spout, with an associated restored three-pointed hairline starcrack (max 6cm., wide) and a 14cm., long horizontal hairline body crack running parallel, restoration to an old rivetted crack running half way around the neck, over-painting around the base and top of the handle and restoration to a break around the base of the spout, minor firing imperfections including fritting around the rim and light glaze scratches.
"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."

本品體形碩大，堅實敦厚，鈷藍料發色濃厚潤澤，屬嘉靖一朝瓷藝癲峰之作。此時期的青花瓷在釉色肥潤，紋飾畫工更顯生動活潑。 「嬰戲圖」形像生動，寓意子孫滿堂，貴子登科。此題材尤盛行於嘉靖一朝，常見於盌、盒、瓶等器。蘇玫瑰曾在其書中對嬰戲圖的寓意作出另一種解釋，指出嬰戲圖中的童子或與道家學說中返老還童的養生之念有關。嘉靖帝篤信道教，其朝之宮廷藝匠們故常採用道教題材的紋飾。詳見《Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art》，倫敦，1989年，頁80。

嘉靖年製並款之執壺甚為罕見，但東京出光美術館藏有一作例，可姿比較。其曾售於倫敦蘇富比1975年12月9日，編號153，並載於《中國陶磁：出光美術館蔵品図錄》，東京，1987年，圖版704。 Charles Russell 故藏另一同式作例，配花果紋瓷蓋，售於倫敦蘇富比1935年6月6日，編號57；此作例現藏倫敦大英博物館英國大維德基金會收藏，錄於蘇玫瑰，出處同上，圖版70。再有一對帶蓋作例，飾蓮葉紋，出自東京徳川黎明會收藏，錄於《明清の美術》，東京，1982年，圖版93。

同式之嘉靖執壺另見兩種紋飾。其一器身中央杏圓開光內飾仕女圖，環飾鳳凰蓮花紋，一件售於倫敦蘇富比1979年4月3日，編號152；另一件出自葉義醫生收藏，展於敏求精舍《中國陶瓷雅集》，香港藝術館，香港，1980年，編號85，並售於香港蘇富比1984年11月19日，編號187。牛津艾許莫林博物館收藏一作例繪有第二種紋飾，中央飾雙龍，傍以仙鶴、壽桃及靈芝紋，圖載於Daisy Lion-Goldschmidt，《Ming Ceramics》，紐約，1978年，頁142，圖版122。另有兩件龍紋作例分售於紐約蘇富比1978年11月4日，編號54及紐約佳士得2007年9月19日，編號272，後者出自日本私人收藏。