民國 押花葫蘆「山水」圖蟋蟀罐 陳錦堂製 《戊辰夏六月中浣錦堂作 時年七十有五》款 「陳」印

the gourd patinated to a golden yellow tone, of globular form with a waisted neck and flared mouth mounted with an ivory mouthrim, the exterior impressed with a mountainous landscape with a meandering river, small bridge, mature pine trees, other trees and bamboo, along the riverbank two scholars, one seated take in the scenery, while a third figure fishes from a small skiff in the water, inscribed in running script Wuchen xia liuyu zhongwan Jintang zuo, shi nian qishi you wu (‘made by Jintang at the age of seventy-five in summer, the middle of the sixth month of the wuchen year’, corresponding to 1928), followed by one seal reading Chen, the domed reticulated tortoiseshell cover carved with a katydid, pine tree, and a pea-vine growing with pods encircled by an ivory rim

Gerard Tsang 及 Hugh Moss，〈Chinese Decorated Gourds〉，《International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong》，香港，1983年，頁73，編號33

There are some radiating age cracks around the ivory mounts (visible on the photo), but apart from this the cricket cage is in very good condition. The actual colour is consistent with the catalogue illustration.
"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."

The present finely impressed and fashioned gourd cricket cage bears the signature of Chen Jintang who is described in Wang Xixiang, The Charms of the Gourd, Hong Kong, 1993, pp. 97-8, as one of the finest gourd impressers active during the 1920s and 30s. Chen was a native of Tianjin and was a brilliant man with a wide variety of abilities. He excelled in the arts of gourd-impressing and heat-engraving, earning the nickname Chen neng’gen’er or ‘Chen the Capable’. This cricket cage is amongst the best examples by him, possibly made during the height of his career. The impression of the landscape is meticulously detailed and painterly, with his pine trees especially naturalistic. See a cricket cage impressed by Chen with the design of an osmanthus pond, included ibid., pl. 150, in the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; four other examples bearing Chen’s signature illustrated in Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, op.cit., pls. 32-36, together with a carved gourd snuff bottle attributed to him, pl. 36; and one in this catalogue, lot 152.