明洪武 青花纏枝菊紋執壺

the pear-shaped body tapering up to a narrow neck and a square-lipped rim, set with a tall curved spout connected to the neck by a cloud-shaped strut, opposite an arched strap handle accented by a central raised ridge and a pointed terminal, the handle surmounted by a small lug, freely painted around the body with a broad chrysanthemum scroll issuing two large blossoms on each side with attendant smaller flowers and buds further wreathed by serrated leaves, between a border of petal lappets enclosing 'cloud' motifs above a 'classic' scroll encircling the foot and pendent trefoils collaring the shoulder, the neck drapped in a scroll of flowering pomegranate and upright plantains divided by a key-fret border repeated on the square-lipped rim, the loop handle decorated with a vertical lotus scroll on the exterior and another on the underside, further outlined with double-lines along the edges, the V-shaped terminal picked out with key-fret surrounded by 'cash' motifs on the bosses, the spout painted with overlapping ruyi sprouting upright floral sprigs below a 'classic' scroll border suspending trefoils on the tip-end, the underglaze blue of characteristic greyish tone well accented with areas of 'heaping and piling', the base glazed

香港蘇富比1991年4月30日，編號10
徐展堂收藏
香港佳士得2003年10月27日，編號627
香港佳士得2005年11月28日，編號1408

《香港蘇富比二十週年》，香港﹐1993年，編號38
《香港蘇富比三十週年》，香港﹐2003年，頁200，編號203

In overall good condition except a crack to the base of the strut where it joins the neck. There are firing gaps to the end of the lower handle and the base.
"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."

此壺乃洪武朝梨形青花執壺之佳例。洪武二年（1369），設置御器廠於景德鎮，體現由朝廷對瓷器的發配、款式、風格及品質的監管。本品既富元瓷的豪放有力，又具明初之規謹精美，剛中見柔，見證元末明初瓷風的嬗變過渡。

1994年，珠山東門頭出土一類同洪武執壺之殘片，上作纏枝蓮紋，曾展於《景德鎮出土明初官窰瓷器特展》，鴻禧美術館，台北，1996年，編號4。也可參見另外二例，其一繪四組折枝花卉，出自清宮舊藏，現存北京，刊錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．青花釉裏紅（上）》，香港，2008年，圖版15，另一例則飾纏枝牡丹，曾為久志卓真雅藏，現藏東京出光美術館，錄於《世界陶磁全集》，卷14，1976年，圖版1。

亦可比較釉裏紅花卉紋作例。《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集》載有一清宮舊藏，前述出處，圖版201。另一例出自大衛德爵士珍藏，現存倫敦大英博物館，見於《世界陶磁全集》，前述出處，頁156，圖13。第三例上繪蕉樹紋，曾為 R.H.R. Palmer 收藏，1962年11月27日售於倫敦蘇富比，編號16，刊於《中国陶磁：出光美術館藏品圖錄》，東京，1987年，彩圖150。

洪武一朝，因仰賴海外貿易進口之鈷藍料，受海禁影響，青花瓷較釉裏紅器罕見。然九十年代於景德鎮發掘出土的大量洪武瓷，其中亦有青花作例。據康蕊君，《玫茵堂中國陶瓷》，卷4，第1部分，倫敦，2012年，頁52，從大量出土青花殘片可見，當時燒造屬實驗性質，且有試用國產鈷料的可能，但其燒成製品不盡理想，才致廢棄。