清乾隆 黃花梨框嵌象牙百寶端陽嬰戲圖掛屏一對

each of rectangular form and superbly applied with stained ivory and painted metal in various shades of colours depicting groups of villagers engaging in various activities in village settings, one decorated in precise detail with a village scene depicting villagers jovially celebrating Duanwu Festival, the blue river decorated with a dragon boat with people drumming and rowing, the calm river surrounded by various groups of adults and children on land engaging in various activities, the blue sky depicted transmuting to a pastel red colour and highlighted with lingzhi-shaped cloud swirls, the picturesque background decorated with jagged mountains and trees, the other similarly decorated with a quaint village celebrating the Duanwu Festival and highlighted with elements of the wufu (five noxious creatures) including the centipede, surrounded by three boys enthralled by it before a house, the interior of the house rendered with a vase with a bouquet of flowers placed on a table, the leisurely scene further adorned with a fenced two storey-pavilion, the pavilion depicted with a figure standing in the main doorway beneath a four-character panel reading wufu linmen ('May the five blessings come to your door') and looking out at a bustling scene decorated with groups of boys frolicking jovially and a lady crossing a bridge with two attendants nearby

洛杉磯蘇富比1979年6月14日，編號813

The overall condition is very good for their age and type. The panels have some expected small chips to the extremities, missing parts and replacement. There are also occasional consolidated loosened parts and age cracks, especially to the top right mountains of the right panel. The panels also have typical foxing to the stained elements and retouched superficial flakes to the painted background.
"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."

此對掛屏，繪岸邊崇山林立之景，人群悠然其中。其尺幅碩具，景緻豐沛，人物生動，盡展中國牙雕工藝之卓絕超群。其間修綴虯結老樹，以金屬製，用色沉穩，與牙色鮮明呼應，使畫面頗顯層次，更突出象牙細膩質感。本品極可能為廣東牙雕，有清一代，廣東進貢大量牙雕製品。象牙，其質細密、其色乳白，觸感潤、光澤柔，誠高貴奢華之典範。1684年海上貿易解禁，愈多牙材得以進口，工匠技藝等以提升，創造性漸強，製作尺幅更大。此屏亦受近代歐洲印刷、繪畫之寫實風格影響，突顯廣東工藝之國際化，亦可見乾隆皇帝品位之高。

廣東牙雕，技法精湛，聞名於世，遂成象牙創作中心，藝工中不乏供御用牙雕大師。據清代《貢檔》載，乾隆七年（1742），「廣東象牙工匠完全為清廷所用，象牙製品亦被清宮壟斷」。（《清代廣東貢品》，香港，1987年，頁64。）

自十六世紀，廣東與世界建立貿易往來，尤與歐洲貿易擴大，以英、葡兩國為最。高宗熱衷探求異域文化，收藏舶來以及中西融合之藝術珍品。此對掛屏即為中西碰撞之產物，其題材為中，風格西化。如採用透視法之類歐洲風景畫經典技巧。此外，其田園景緻和諧，人物佈局巧妙，引人浮想聯翩。所用藍色，將西方結構性劃分與中式空靈美感完美契合。

相近類例，見一茜色象牙雕庭院美人圖掛屏，清宮舊藏，載《中國美術全集》，卷11，北京，1987年，圖版104，另一嵌象牙嬰戲圖掛屏，見圖版103；亦有茜色象牙雕人物掛屏，藏於劍橋郡Anglesey莊園，錄Soames Jenyns及William Watson，《Chinese Art: Textiles, Glass and Painting on Glass, Carvings in Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn, Carving in Hardstones, Snuff Bottles, Inkcakes and Ink Stones》，倫敦，1981年，圖版97，另見嵌象牙東海八仙圖掛屏，售於香港蘇富比1997年12月2日，編號67；一件精美嵌象牙廣東黃埔圖掛屏，售於倫敦蘇富比2006年7月12日，編號74；亦有一紫檀框嵌象牙農忙圖掛屏，沐文堂藏，售於香港佳士得2009年12月1日，編號1954。另可比一對年代略晚紫檀框嵌象牙點翠新春圖景掛屏，屬 John R.H.爵士及夫人雅藏，形制近本品，售於紐約佳士得2009年9 月15日，編號275。相近工藝所製屏風，可見東方陶瓷學會展覽〈Chinese Ivories from the Shang to the Qing〉，大英博物館，倫敦，1984年，編號165-168。

此對掛屏描繪端陽節賽龍舟之景。其中一屏，見眾人雀躍，奮力行舟，另一屏，繪嬰戲與五毒題材。農曆五月初五為「端午」，相傳屈原投江自盡後，人們競相划船於汨羅江上找尋其屍，遂後人以賽龍舟紀念屈原。人們篤信隆隆鼓聲及船槳打水之響，可驅邪祈福。人們投食入江，希望藉此保護屈原之身不受魚群吞食。五月夏至，五毒盛行，遂亦有趨瘟之習俗。