明正德 青花阿拉伯文蓮紋帶蓋長方筆盒

of rectangular form, supported on a stepped foot, the top of the cover and the box similarly decorated with Arabic roundels alternating with stylised lotus sprays, the rim of the cover and the foot encircled by ruyi bands, inscribed at the base with a six-character reign mark within a double-rectangle

There is a restored break to the cover to one side that runs diagonally across the top surface. There are two firing cracks ( both 4cm) to the base, which both run faintly up the side and two smaller ones to the other side 5mm and 8mm. There is an area of glaze loss (fritting) to one corner and some further areas of fritting and glaze inconsistency to the upper part of the stepped base. There is a 1.4cm by 8mm glaze pull to one side of the box to one inscribed roundel and other smaller areas above this and another smaller area to the other side.
"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."

本品飾阿拉伯及波斯文，為文房器物，造型精巧，僅製於明代正德一朝，故同例甚罕。當時朝中有穆斯林太監，位高權重，通曉雙語，根據Harry Garner爵士，《Oriental Blue and White》，倫敦，1973年，頁29-30，此類瓷器或為中國本地市場而製，或為精通兩語的穆斯林太監之文案用具。

大英博物館現藏有一例，出自大衛德爵士收藏，圖錄於Jessica Harrison-Hall，《Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum》，倫敦，2001年，圖版8.5，另有正德年器並款墨硯 ，紋飾類近，出處同上，圖版8.6。有一例原為Ernest Grandidier收藏，現藏於巴黎吉美博物館， Xavier Besse出版，《La Chine des Porcelaines》，吉美博物館，巴黎，2004，圖版16。此外亦可參考多倫多皇家安大略博物館藏作例，圖錄於Harry Garner爵士，《Oriental Blue and White》，出處同上，圖版43a。另有一嘉靖年器並款作例，現藏於北京首都博物馆，載於《中國陶瓷全集》，卷12，上海，1999年，圖版173；此外尚有一例售於香港佳士得1994年10月31日，編號554。