意大利玳瑁鑲黃金及珠母貝橢圓碟一對， 那不勒斯，約1740年

each of oval scalloped outline, with broad gadrooned border and central panel; one decorated with an elderly man on a donkey with children and palm trees on a trellis ground, surrounded by a frieze of figures with dogs, Indian masks, each section of the border decorated with alternating figures of monkeys, putti and children in trellis ground cartouches; the second dish with central panel with horse cart carrying a haystack with a man lying on top and a drunken man and a dog running by its side, surrounded by a frieze with sections with alternating cherubs, dogs and rural figures on foliated cartouches on a trellis ground, some very minor losses

日內瓦蘇富比，1987年5月14日，拍品編號125
現任藏家購自上述拍賣會，歐洲私人收藏

RELATED LITERATURE

Geoffrey de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, Furniture, Clocks and Bronzes, Fribourg: Office du Livre, 1974;

H. C. Dent, Piquè: a beautiful minor art, London, The Connoisseur, 1923.

These exquisite dishes are both in overall good conserved condition. It is rare to have a pair of tehse dishes with such finesse to the inlay. Approximately 95% of the inlay is in original condition with some very minor restorations generally to the inlays. The dish with the carriage has very minor chips to edge of central lower gadroon as visible from the catalogue photograph and very minor repairs to top edge only visible from the back. There are some very minor losses to gold foliage around the central panel which are visible in the catalogue photograph. Dish with donkey has two minor hairline cracks to the left hand side as visible in the photograph. There are minor losses to the mother of pearl inlay to central left gadroon as visible in the photograph. There is a small crack to right hand side and very minor loss to donkey's leg. Both have small old labels to back.
"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."

此對橢圓碟之玳瑁鑲嵌技巧精緻絕倫，不但匹配成雙，其玳瑁鑲工品質超卓，珍罕不凡。貝狀碟形鮮明地展現獨特技巧，其靈感來自十七世紀銀器及十八世紀陶瓷工藝，於各部分鑲上不同圖案，呈現箇中悠然輕盈之韻，如詩如畫，非常迎合當時歐洲的美學品味，而碟中體現了其中兩種審美特色：一種是擬中式風格（chinoiseries）、以猴仿人（singeries）之事物圍繞神仙，富有非比尋常、異國風情的格調；另一種則貼近自然農鄉，嚮往大自然之理想國度。