清十八/十九世紀初 緙絲蟠桃大會圖掛幅

richly embroidered in bright colours with a lively scene depicting the legendary Peach Festival, depicting a pantheon of Daoist immortals and deities, with Shoulao and the Eight Immortals on a garden terrace with pine and peach trees issuing from rockwork awaiting the arrival of Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West, who descends from the sky seated astride her phoenix, with a pair of cranes in flight above, within silk brocade borders, Perspex frame

比利時外交官於十九世紀末得自中國

The kesi is in good overall condition with the exception of some repairs to tears, including: three circa 2cm., lines to the sky area; a 16cm., and 35cm., horizontal line above Shoulao's head; a 2cm., line to the left of Shoulao; a 1.5cm., line to the right of the female figure; and a 2cm., V-shaped line to the balustrade. It should be noted that the colours are strong, but a little softer in tone than the catalogue illustration would suggest.
"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."

本品繡工精巧，色彩斑斕，描繪西王母蟠桃大會，畫意自然，刻畫入微，靈鹿奇石栩栩如生，仙人袍服紋飾精細多樣。如此精工巧繡之緙絲掛幅，比諸多種絲織更為費工耗時，故為巨富人家獨有之物。

緙絲，織法通經斷緯，將彩絲穿梭於經線之間，完成後剪斷線頭，紋飾圖案周圍留有鋸齒狀空隙。現知最早之緙絲溯源唐代，屬毛織物，直至南宋方始廣泛流行。青海都蘭古墓出土緙絲殘片，墓主為夫婦，分別卒於公元633年及688年，另一例同出土於都蘭，曾展於《China. Dawn of a Golden Age》，大都會博物館，紐約，2005年，編號245。

時至明代，緙絲掛幅更趨流行。清朝年間，緙絲織品深受皇帝青睞，成品更為精巧，工藝越見嫻熟。清初期間，宮廷造辦處及江寧、蘇州、杭州等地均設織坊，織造朝廷及廟宇內部陳設、文武官員衣飾補子等物，織造越見精巧專門，如浙江溫州，即以緙絲見著。

瀋陽遼寧省博物館藏一例，尺寸稍大，繡紅地蟠桃大會圖，曾展於香港東方陶瓷學會《錦繡羅衣巧天工》，香港藝術館，香港， 1995年，編號 119；另一例售於倫敦蘇富比2005年7月13日，編號161；再比一例，售於紐約佳士得2012年3月22日，編號1627。比較台北國立故宮博物院收藏一例，描繪眾仙女伴西王母，曾展於《故宮織繡選萃》，台北，1998年，編號 21。

道教傳載，西王母居崑崙山，掌管蟠桃，三千年一結實，食之長生不老。王母設蟠桃盛會於瑤池，宴請群仙。蟠桃盛會乃常見道教紋飾，本品描繪眾仙恭迎西王母乘鳳輦駕臨，雍容華貴，慈祥秀麗。本品寓意祥瑞，乃壽宴賀禮佳品。