元 黑漆嵌螺鈿訪友圖三層委角方盒

盒方形委角，共三層，隨形圈足。一屜內髹朱漆，其他內外均髹黑漆，以螺鈿鑲嵌紋飾。蓋面飾高牆內亭臺樓閣，古樹參天，閣內文人倚窗同讀、閑聊。牆外官人立於門前，旁有童子攜琴扣門，三童子捧書相隨，馬栓於柳樹。蓋壁、盒壁及足牆錦地上四面菱花形開光，蓋壁、盒壁開光內飾庭院人物圖；足牆開光內飾動物圖。

《中國漆藝二千年》，香港東方陶瓷學會，香港中文大學文物館，香港，1993年，編號92
《疊彩：抱一齋藏中國漆器》，香港中文大學文物館，香港，2010年，編號26

There are age cracks to the surface, especially the cover, and bruises to the inner flanges of the boxes.Minor chips and losses to the lacquer at the corners. As visible in the catalogue photos, there are minor losses to the fragile areas, as expected of a piece of this age and delicacy.On the cover, the head of a figure on the top left is lost, and several of the robes and an additional female figure's head on the sides. Upper tiered tray: losses to a head of one figure, and to robes. Age cracks to the interior.Bruising to the flanges. Lower box: losses to robes and other minor details. Age cracks to the interior, and bruising to the foot.
"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."

以精細的螺鈿鑲嵌庭院人物場景，應受版畫的啟發而來。甚有玩味的是工匠在細節上也用了版畫的表現手法，以增強場景的自然逼真。一童子騎在馬背上，手捧著一本刻有「書」字的書；右上角書生手捧方盤；馬鞍上刻有兔子和星星；冒著煙的熱茶。

螺鈿鑲嵌是唐代新盛的工藝，用於裝飾鏡背及奩盒。宋朝工匠運用薄而軟的貝殼，鑲嵌出複雜精細的亭台樓閣、庭院人物場景，且人物面容生動逼真。至元朝螺鈿鑲嵌技術已達頂峰，更為流行。明代曹昭著《格古要論》曰：「螺鈿器皿，出江西吉安府廬陵縣。宋朝內府中物及舊做者，但是堅漆或有嵌銅線者甚佳。元朝時富豪不限年月做，造漆堅而人物可愛。」書中也記載了元朝螺鈿器深受明初期洪武朝宮廷藏家的青睞（見大維德爵士著《Chinese Connoisseurship – The Ko Ku Yao Lun, The Essential Criteria of Antiquities》1971年，倫敦，148-149頁）。

一件類似的四棱層盒曾展出於日本，見《中國螺鈿漆器藝術》，東京國立博物館，1979年，編號21；一件為歐文伉儷舊藏，曾展出於《East Asian Lacquer》，大都會博物館，紐約，1991年，圖版58；一件可作比較的藏東京根津美術館，見《特別展 宋元の美 伝来の漆器を中心》，東京，2004年，編號131；另一件曾展出於《From Innovation to Conformity. Chinese Lacquer from the 13^th to 16^th Centuries》 Bluett & Sons，倫敦， 1989年，編號30。