拍品 188
  • 188

清十七 / 十八世紀 竹雕「踏雪尋梅」圖筆筒 吳之璠製 《吳之璠》款

估價
5,000,000 - 7,000,000 HKD
招標截止

描述

  • 《吳之璠》款
刻文原出于謙(1398-1457年)之《題孟浩然圖》:「蹇驢破帽逐風沙,過卻溪橋日已斜。撚斷銀髯詩未就,先生意不在梅華。」

Condition

Apart from some typical age cracks which have been stabilised, as well as some minor surface scratches, the overall condition is quite good. The brushpot has an attractive patina. The actual colour is of a darker and warmer reddish-brown tone compared 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."

拍品資料及來源

此筆筒乃清初竹刻名家吳之璠巧製,飾乘驢文士,侍從執一柯梅花,暗示正值寒冬。同類紋飾常見於清朝藝作,有關圖中主人翁的身份,學界曾提出不同的可能性,詳見曾嘉寶,〈Who is the Rider on the Donkey? Some New Observations〉,《JICSBS》,1994年夏,頁4-16,文中作者指駕驢者,最大可能為唐朝著名詩人孟浩然。此筆筒上刻文原出于謙(1398-1457年)之《題孟浩然圖》:「蹇驢破帽逐風沙,過卻溪橋日已斜。撚斷銀髯詩未就,先生意不在梅華」,肯定曾之論說。

據葉義及譚志成,《中國竹刻藝術》,香港,1978及1982年,下冊,頁128,吳之璠,字魯珍,號東海老人,祖藉江蘇嘉定,後遷天津,活躍於康熙一朝,擅竹刻,以其首創「薄地陽文」淺浮雕見稱,雕作背景多平素無紋,所飾蒼松,如本品所見,老幹鱗皴密佈,朽枝蜒蜿,並擅以簡潔淺浮雕表現深度。

有其他署吳之璠款筆筒,可作比對。其中包括清宮舊藏東山報捷圖黃楊筆筒,現存北京故宮,圖載於《中國美術全集-工藝美術編11:竹木牙角器》,北京,1987年,圖版13,也見於《Bamboo Carving of China》,China Institute in America,1983年,圖51及51a。故宮黃楊木筆筒,疑為乾隆四十年(1775)獲高宗盛讚之品。據錄,弘曆見吳之璠巧作,問侍臣:「吳魯珍是何人?」臣子遂翻卷查考,從陸廷燦《南邨隨筆》中得吳之璠記載,自此鲁珍聲名大噪,以其工巧藝高稱著,見余建華編,《中國美術家人名辭典》,上海,1980年,頁277-78。該黃楊筆筒與本品有多個共通之處:兩者皆以獨特之山石作背景,山崖壁立,高聳巍峨,風格別樹一幟,形狀不同於當時嘉定雕作常見之岩石。兩者上飾松樹,姿態相近,主幹挺拔,或光素平滑、或癭瘤鱗皴,雅致秀逸,底部歧枝疏落,樹冠橫柯則猶如縱筆揮毫,雄渾蒼勁,頗具詩韻。二器圖中人物、走獸皆雕飾細緻、刻劃自然,風格如出一徹,且同署吳之璠隸款,書風相近。

據說,吳之璠得嘉定竹雕絕藝巧技,擅長傳統高浮雕,又獨辟蹊徑,創「薄地陽文」之法,是以對竹刻發展影響深遠,誠該朝竹藝大家之一。相比北京故宮博物院藏黃楊木作,此品浮雕雖未及其起伏分明,紋飾卻仍較後期竹雕繁密,層次更形豐富清晰,可推想此筆筒或屬吳之璠早期作品,製於其風格成熟以前。魯珍晚年竹雕,背景簡潔,甚至素地留白,例有一筆筒,上同飾「踏雪尋梅」圖,描繪文人駕驢,侍從持梅枝相隨,卻欠背景山石,整體構圖較本筆筒簡潔,其拓本見王世襄,《竹刻鑑賞》,台北,1997年,頁53,編號10。

其他吳之璠竹雕作例,可見筆筒二件,載於《中國美術全集-工藝美術編11:竹木牙角器》,前述出處,圖版11及12。北山堂藏丁山射雁筆筒,也可資比對,載於葉義及譚志成,前述出處,上冊,圖版43。另有一筆筒例,上題「丁卯秋日為挺老年翁,之璠製」,圖見《古器:翦淞閣文房器具箋》,台北,2004年,頁70。