清雍正 鬪彩雞缸盃一對 《成化年製》仿款

each finely potted with rounded sides rising from a concave base to a gently flared rim, the exterior decorated in delicate shades of enamels and underglaze blue with two cockerels and five chicks enamelled yellow and aubergine, a large rock formation issuing a pomegranate fruit and flowers interrupting the continuous scene, all between a single-line and double-line bordering the foot and rim respectively, the interior decorated with a medallion enclosing multi-coloured lingzhi blossoms and leaves, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with an apocryphal four-character Chenghua mark within a double circle, wood stands

鄭德坤教授（1907-2001）收藏
倫敦蘇富比2005年11月9日，編號300

鄭德坤教授（1907-2001），福建鼓波嶼人，為二十世紀著名中國考古學者。於燕京大學及哈佛大學取得學士及博士學位後，出教厦門大學與華西協合大學。1951年獲聘劍橋大學，執教逾二十三載，培育出不少著名之考古學者。榮休後應香港中文大學之邀請，於1974年赴港繼續教授講學。先任教於藝術系，後兼任文學院院長，最後出任副校長。

鄭氏在中國考古研究上貢獻良多，除將龐大之學術資料作系統性梳理，令中國古文化能與世界史相互融匯外，並留下豐富之論文及書籍著作，如《中國考古學大系》、《鄭德坤古史論集選》、及早年發表之論文《水輕注》、《四川史前考古》等。

鄭氏極愛收藏古物，且範圍甚廣，陶瓷、玉石、書畫，無一不好。並以於劍橋時建立「木扉圖書館」之名用作個人雅藏堂號。曾出版《木扉珍藏玉器》、《木扉藏明遺民畫二十家》等藏品集。

Left cup: There are two minute scale chips to the footrim (0.5 cm and 0.2 cm) Right cup: there are insignificant scale chips to the footrim, a burst bubble to the rim and iron red spot to the glaze. Otherwise in good condition.
"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."

This exquisitely painted pair of doucai winecups belongs to a group of Yongzheng cups inspired by the famous Chenghua ‘chicken cups’. Yongzheng cups usually follow the Chenghua prototypes closely in shape but vary considerably in the interpretation of the design. Although the position of the birds and chicks is similar to that found on the Chenghua original, the cock features elaborate ruffled feathers that were more in line with the Yongzheng taste. Furthermore, the proportions of the flowers and rocks have also changed.

A closely related winecup, from the collection of Mrs Walter Sedgwick, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Arts of the Ch’ing Dynasty, London, 1964, cat. no. 194, was sold in these rooms, 14th November 1989, lot 230, and is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4, pt. 2, London, 2010, pl. 1745; and another from the Edward T. Chow collection was sold in these rooms, 25th November 1980, lot 139.

For the Chenghua prototype see the chicken cup from the Edward T. Chow, Sakamoto Gorō and Meiyintang collections, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2014, lot 1.