明宣德 銅鎏金甪端薰爐 《大明宣德年製》款

cast as an incense burner in the form of a xiezhi depicted standing on a snake-like mythical creature, gripping it with its four claws, the serpentine figure coiled around to form the base of the vessel, its head with ears and a single horn resembling a chilong, the tail curling up the beast’s rear left leg as the head rises up the rear right leg, the hollow body cast with flaming flanks, the back flames terminating in stylised ruyi heads, around an elaborate tail with skilfully delineated tufts of hair, the chest cast with a long strip of scaling decorated with an elaborate collar around its shoulders, suspending a bell and two ornamental tassles framing the six-character reign mark cast in kaishu in a curved horizontal line at the neck, the head also hollow with mouth open enabling egress, with a single horn in the form of a ruyi sceptre rising above an additional ruyi head, with an additional four depicted radiating outwards across the elaborate hair of its mane, the outer surfaces, and the inner lip of the head all richly gilt

紐約春源齋
倫敦斯佩爾曼，1999年

As clearly visible in the catalogue photos, there is general surface wear and scratching. There are small dents to both sides of the vessel at the shoulder. There are other minor scratches and pinholes. There are losses to the gilt, especially on the underside. There is other general scratching and surface war to the cover, and loss of gilt, especially to the nose and upper jaw. The colour of the gilding is fairly accurately captured in the catalogue photos.
"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."

此銘宣德年款的甪端薰爐鑄造精美，在眾多帶偽款的後仿器中更顯出色。此爐專為宮廷製作，數量不多，但常見為宮廷及寺廟製作香爐的紀錄。觀其銅胎及厚重的鎏金，聯想到十五世紀初期的掐絲琺瑯工藝。

巴黎Corneur 舊藏一件甪端香薰是唯一著錄的相同例子，2004年11月1日於香港佳士得拍賣，編號835，此爐的不同之處只是年款銘於器底。一組銘宣德年款、飾高浮雕龍紋的香爐，其面相、毛髮、獸爪與此甪端薰爐如出一轍，其中一件2011年10月5日於香港蘇富比拍賣，編號1943。另一例見 Hugh Moss 及 Gerard Tsang ，《文物萃珍》，香港東方陶瓷學會，1986年，編號139；2008年5月27日香港佳士得拍賣，編號1912。

沈約在《宋書‧符瑞志》曰：「甪端日行萬八千里，又曉四夷之語，聖主在位明達方外幽遠，則奉書而至。耶律楚材謂為旌星之精靈，異如鬼神。」甪端是識賢聰慧的神獸，統治者為了表現自己的賢明，也為了得到神獸保護，成為皇帝寶座旁必有得陳設。