清十八世紀初 白玉鳳凰觥

the flattened upright body with a band of archaistic kui dragons between rope-twist borders and a key-fret band bordering the mouthrim, all rising above a recumbent phoenix with claws held tightly beneath, its head turned back with its beak open, its tail intricately incised with ruyi-shaped plumage and extending up around the vessel, the translucent stone of an even white colour with faint russet inclusions

紐約蘇富比2001年10月17日，編號72

Overall good condition. One of the small claws may have been possibly chipped and polished. Minute nicks to the extremities as can be expected. The catalogue illustration with a reddish tone.
"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."

本觥取佳材，施巧技，納青銅風骨，借古犀角形韻，雕顧首鳳凰，優雅異常。一螭龍例，售於倫敦蘇富比1974年11月12日，編號72。亦見一正首鳳凰例，售於香港蘇富比1985年5月22日，編號311。另見一略小例，藏明尼阿波利斯美術館，錄於《Chinese Jades: Archaic and Modern》，明尼阿波利斯，1977年，圖版211（左）。

參考一件年代略早之仿古鳳首例，Avery Brundage 舊藏，錄於 Rene-Yvon Lefebvre d’Argence，《Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection》，舊金山，1977年，圖版49。

鳥獸負皿之式，源出上古青銅觥，屬祭祀禮器。後復於宋，繼盛於清。自清始，各類品樣、材質之器始見繁多。本品觥，精雕一羽祥鳳，昂首振翅，負角盃一尊。角盃者，古酒器，多以牛角為材。玉製角盃，始見於漢，或自中、西亞傳入，材取銀、寶石等物。玉觥多作瑞獸銜盃狀，本鳳凰觥構思新巧，神形兼備，古韻猶存。

觥者，古品重器，見各類材質。可參考一掐絲琺瑯例，雕飾相類，售於倫敦蘇富比1982年10月29日，編號39；繼售於巴黎佳士得2007年12月7日，編號20。另見一銅觥例，仇焱之收藏，精雕瑞獸，獸首鳥身，售於香港蘇富比2014年5月27日，編號52。