明永樂 剔紅周敦頤愛蓮圖圓盒 《大明永樂年製》款

the flat circular cover crisply carved through deep layers of cinnabar lacquer with a scene of the 'Four Favourites' depicting the Song philosopher Zhou Dunyi seated on the terrace of an opulent pavilion by the edge of a lake, fanning himself looking at a lotus pond and a crane while two servants in the kitchen prepare a meal, the scene surrounded by various trees, shrubs and rocks beneath a tall gnarled pine tree and swaying sprays of bamboo, against various diaper patterns for the terrace, water and air, all below cloud scrolls at the rim, the sides decorated with composite flower-heads including lotus, camellia, magnolia, hibiscus, chrysanthemum and peony, all wreathed in their lush foliage contained within two thick plain borders, the box, the box similarly carved with matching flower scrolls, the interior and the base lacquered in brownish-black, the latter inscribed with a six-character needle-incised vertical reign mark on the left side

《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40
《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37

The cover has a few consolidated cracks that have been stabilized. The edges also have some consolidated cracks that have been restored and overpainted. The interior of the cover looks to be in very good condition. The box has a bit of overpainting to the consolidated cracks, which gives the box a slightly different red colour. The black on the bottom may have been relacquered at a later time, but still has age cracks throughout. The interior is in quite good condition with only a few minor cracks and chips along the rim and around the base that have been restored and stabilized.
"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."

此盒雕工深邃，造型碩大，保存良好，在永樂漆器中更顯珍罕。一件造型相同但尺寸較小的例子為 Florence 及 Herbert Irving 所藏，現借展於紐約大都會藝術博物館，刊於屈志仁及 Barbara Brennan Ford，《East Asian Lacquer》，紐約，1991年，圖27。Irving 所藏的蓋盒庭院人物不同，蓋壁環飾花卉紋。另外一些可作比較的例子藏各大博物館及為私人收藏，均飾不同的庭院人物圖，蓋壁環飾花卉紋，刻永樂款。北京故宮博物院藏一件，見《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集‧元明漆器》，香港，2006年，頁193，圖37-41。一件為仇焱之舊藏，1994年5月3日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號279。另一件2001年10月29日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號666。

日本藏數件同類蓋盒。東京國立博物館藏一例，曾展於《中國明清美術展》，東京國立博物館，東京，1977年，圖499。同展中另有兩件為根津美術館所藏，見編號497-498。

此類盒也有一部份在永樂款上在加刻宣德款。李汝寬，《Oriental Lacquer Art》，紐約，1972年，頁40、41中提到此批在永樂款上加刻宣德款的漆器，為永樂皇帝1424年突然駕崩前所作，在宣德登基初期仍在作坊有待貢呈，故須加上宣德銘款方可上呈。刻款位置仍如永樂朝般落於左邊，有別於以後宣德銘款置中直行或上端橫書之置法。北京故宮博物院藏有三例，同上註，圖47-49。另一件2008年4月11日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號2947。