明萬曆 戧金填漆周敦頤賞蓮圖委角方盒 《大明萬曆庚戌年製》款

盒方形委角，子母口，平頂弧沿，方形足。外壁通體施褐色漆為地，雕填戧金彩漆紋飾。蓋面飾周敦頤手持團扇倚坐湖邊欣賞水中蓮花，兩童子侍候在旁。盒、蓋壁分別環飾折枝蓮花及茶花紋，足墻飾朵雲紋。器內及器底髹朱漆，底刀刻填金《大明萬曆庚戌年製》橫款。

菲格斯爵士伉儷收藏
倫敦佳士得1983年12月14日，編號11

《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85
《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21

There are cracks and overall tarnishing to the lacquer in commensuration with age and as visible on the photo. There are retouching to the lacquer on the corner, probably to stabilize cracks, as well as expected re lacquering on the rim of the cover and the interior rim of the box with occasional losses or dents. There are further age cracks on the base and on the interior that have been stabilized, including a crack crossing over the two first characters of the mark.
"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."

此盒蓋面以宋代理學宗祖「周敦頤愛蓮圖」為紋飾，他愛蓮之高潔，與書聖「王羲之愛鵝」、東晉文學家「陶淵明愛菊」、唐代詩人「孟浩然愛梅」組成了流行於元、明年間的「四愛圖」紋飾，描繪了古代名士悠然自得的風度與超凡脫俗的情操。一件以四愛圖為紋飾的萬曆青花梅瓶，見康蕊君《玫茵堂中國陶瓷》，倫敦，1994年，圖版725。

可比較一件紋飾相仿的戧金填漆盤，刻乙未干支年款於香港蘇富比1983年11月15日拍賣，編號336；李氏家族舊藏一件刻「王羲之愛蘭」圖棱式盤，見《中國漆器全集》，福州，1995年，卷5，圖版146；一件歐文伉儷舊藏戧金填漆，尺寸稍大的龍紋方盒，同樣刻庚戌款，曾展出於《East Asian Lacquer》，大都會博物館，紐約，1991年，圖版53；另一件帶甲辰款，見胡世昌和Jane Wilkinson，《 History of the Chinese Lacquer Collection in the National Museum of Scotland》，1998年，圖版1908。

盒面紋飾上方飾方格卍字為錦地，此為萬曆後期常用於填漆器物的裝飾手法。