明萬曆 青花銜芝游龍紋大梅瓶 《大明萬曆年製》款

sturdily potted with high rounded shoulders rising to a short waisted neck and lipped rim, boldly painted in rich cobalt-blue tones with a ferocious four-clawed dragon grasping a sprig of lingzhi in its mouth, the sinuous scaly body with trailing flame-like extensions, the head detailed with whiskers and a long mane, all between lappet bands around the shoulder and the foot, inscribed with a six-character reign mark

This large and impressive vase is in good condition with the exception of over-painting to a vertical body crack extending from the top of the lappet band up through the edge of the ruyi head and dragons front left claws and curving to the right to meet the lappet band at the shoulder, minor glaze firing imperfections including scattered iron spots, burst glaze bubbles and light glaze scratches.
"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."

本品瓶身巨龍盤繞，威武靈動，神采活現。萬曆年間，大型青花梅瓶似乎甚得萬曆皇帝青睞，1958年萬曆帝墓定陵出土八件大型帶蓋梅瓶，上飾纏枝花卉及龍紋，其中一件圖錄於《中國文物精華大全·陶瓷卷》，香港，1993年，圖版H4。

參照兩件相近瓶例，圖錄於陸明華，《明代官窰瓷器》，2007年，圖版3-97及3-98；《龍泉集芳：創業七十周年記念》載一較小作例，卷1，東京，1976年，圖版952；另一例出自大衛德爵士故藏，現存於倫敦大英博物館，見於《Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains》，倫敦，1976年，圖版669；大英博物館尚有一瓶例，圖錄於Jessica Harrison-Hall，《Ming Ceramics in the British Museum》，倫敦，2001年，圖版11:32；亦可參考一較小作例，售於紐約佳士得2010年3月26日，編號1356。亦有瓶例，飾穿雲鳳紋，瓶肩及瓶足紋飾相近，曾展於東方陶瓷學會《Ming Blue and White Porcelain》展覽，倫敦，1946年，編號60，售於倫敦蘇富比1958年7月 8日，編號 13；香港蘇富比於2005年5月2日曾出售一例，編號 646。

此類梅瓶，多以宣德年器為模，景德鎮明代窰廠遺址宣德時期地層出土一青花瓶例，飾相近銜芝四爪龍，曾展於《景德鎮珠山出土永樂宣德官窰瓷器展覽》，香港藝術館，香港，1989年，編號88。