清嘉慶 題乾隆帝聖製詩瑞芝擺件 《臣阮元敬書》款

the fungus of a semicircular form, one side naturally gnarled, the flat reverse side with an imperial poem in gilt, composed by the Qianlong Emperor and titled shengzhi yong zhi ping bayun (‘Eight rhymes on lingzhi screen by his honorable majesty’), elegantly inscribed in clerical script, signed Ruan Yuan and followed by two small seals in cinnabar red, wood stand

方靜沛，《集珍齋－文人珍品》，紐約，1997年，頁115，照片見圖95及107

Apart from an old repair to the bottom left section, as well as some expected age cracks and minor chips to the extremities, the overall condition is very good. The gilt inscription also has some expected rubbing, but the majority of the characters have been preserved.
"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."

瑞芝碩大，正面皴皺密佈，起伏不斷。背面泥金題詩，詩題曰「聖製詠芝屏八韻」，乃乾隆三十九年（1774）清高宗御製詩。詩云：「故土辭山澤，新屏廁几帷。丹青難與繪，雕琢未曾施。相則檀紫稱，藉帷茅白宜。質猶盈尺富，歲已數千期。舜代卿雲蔭，堯年寶露滋。蟬聯三秀燦，蟠錯萬花蕤。底用祥編表，還嗤壽牒披。途中思曵尾，或亦似靈龜」，詠嘆天工造巧，瑞芝年輪之美，恆古不衰。此件以「聖製」二字啟，指出與當朝帝王「御製」詩文之別，可悉題詩年份上限應為嘉慶年間。

北京故宮博物院藏相類芝屏數座，其一乾隆三十九年御題紫檀嵌木靈芝插屏，正面嵌木靈芝一朵，年輪若行雲流水，鑲邊木料雕卷雲相配，背刻此詠芝屏八韻，下添近臣作詠芝詩五首，足見清宮對靈芝之珍。詳見《頤養謝塵喧－乾隆皇帝的秘密花園》，香港藝術館，香港，2012年，編號36。

靈芝乃瑞物，含延壽之兆，據清宮進單檔案，各地時有上供，以應禎祥。如據一乾隆五十七年（1792）進單，湖北巡撫福寧曾上獻芝屏，交予熱河。清宮收得靈芝，或作盆景、或作插屏，置於各宮殿樓閣，既應祥瑞，更添雅致。

阮元（1764-1849），乾隆五十四年（1789） 以進士任翰林院庶吉士，散館授編修，早獲高宗賞識。為官三朝，曾任湖廣總督、兩廣總督、雲貴總督。阮元珍藝好雅，蒐藏文玩，為世稱道。其書法亦為君所重。參見寧壽宮玉粹軒存鑲玉阮元書七言篆文對聯，出處同上，編號3。