明成化 龍泉窰青釉馬上封侯紋爵盃 《成化年龍泉造》款

of archaic bronze shape, the U-shaped body supported on three legs in the form of a recumbent horse, a monkey and a wasp on a low base, rising to a widely flaring rim extended to one end forming the spout, the exterior decorated with dragons pacing amongst floral scrolls beneath a trellis band, flanked by a pair of gilt and brown-dressed coiled dragon handles, applied overall with a sea-green glaze, the grey base with a six-character reign mark reading Chenghua nian Longquan zao and burnt to an orange tone, wood cover and Japanese wood box

尾州徳川家御蔵品入札，日本
東京美術倶楽部，1921年11月7日，編號173

The vessel is in good condition with the exception of restoration to one handle, two small glaze rim chips and a 5mm., wide glaze chip to the front edge of the stand.
"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."

署成化年款之相類瓷器，頗為珍罕，可比一例，出自J.C. Dragon II 收藏，數度現身拍賣場，1961及1968年兩度售於倫敦蘇富比，並於1996年於香港蘇富比易手，再兩度售於香港佳士得，先後為1997年及2011年11月30日，編號2891。

龍泉青釉爵盃，以三足雛型較為常見，台北故宮博物館藏有一例，圖錄於《碧綠—明代龍泉窰青瓷》，2012年，圖版111；Chang Loo Peng 收藏一例，曾展於《Chinese Celadons and Other Related Wares in Southeast Asia》，新加坡國家博物館，1979年，編號253；紐約蘇富比曾出售兩例，其一出自C. Oswald Liddell收藏，1978年5月11日，編號166，例二售於1980年6月18日，編號358；另有一例，售於倫敦蘇富比1982年6月15日，編號264。

本品以無動物座基之取而代之。爵盃最早見於二里頭文化（公元前1900年至1500年），為青銅盛酒祭器，象徵爵位，用於祭祖儀式。本品巧以靈猴、黃蜂及駿馬塑像作足，諧音「馬上封侯」，亦帶相近寓意。