清乾隆 百寶嵌百鳥朝鳳圖掛屏

the rectangular panel opulently centred with a pair of phoenix, the male feng depicted standing on pierced rockwork and the female huang perched on a prunus tree branch, surrounded by a menagerie of birds varying from mandarin ducks to parrots, finches to magpies, and doves to sparrows, their bodies rendered from brightly painted inlaid ivory, the rocks made of further painted ivory imitating lapis lazuli, the petals of the prunus made from rock crystal, and the petals of the small flowers on the sides made of brilliant turquoise bird feathers and coral, the lively design reserved on a painted slate blue ground and framed in a gilt-bronze European frame

Apart from a few loose minor pieces falling off and being re-glued, the overall condition is very good. The vertical line (visible in the catalogue) on the right hand side of the panel is the edge of the panel and when the panel is opened from the back can be separated from the frame. The whole panel is protected behind glass. There are a few minor old chips to the frame.
"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."

此屏風精妙華美，作工講究，或飾於宮中坐臥起居之處。經內務府監督，造辦處工匠應用上佳材料所製之傑作，足見清宮匠人技藝，可謂同款鑲嵌屏風中之優秀佳例。

百寶嵌屏，間綴點翠，尤為特別罕有。重華宮見一御製屏風，綴以珍貴錦飾，載於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品大系：明清家具（下）》，香港，2002年，圖版259。另見一對漆飾屏風，售於紐約佳士得2006年3月29日，編號254。一件清宮舊藏嵌木漆屏，仍存北京，出處同上，圖版196、200及201。

屏中點翠工藝，取自翠鳥羽毛，加以塑形剪裁，鑲於底板。鮮藍色彩不從鳥羽而來，而是經光影折射，呈現眼前。傳統以來，貴價上品以柬埔寨高棉國翠羽而製，有說為清室所呈進之翠羽，足令高棉王朝國庫豐裕。一例飾有桃枝群鳥圖，鑲百寶，綴點翠，貯於長春宮，出處同上，圖版254。滿洲仕女喜戴珍貴寶石及點翠髮飾，見一鈿子，載於《清代服飾展覽圖錄》，國立故宮博物院，台北，1986年，編號87。

此屏風不僅錦飾華美，題材更寓意深長。鳳凰乃百鳥之王，群鳥圍繞其中，稱作百鳥朝凰、百鳥朝鳳，或作百鳥朝王。鳳凰僅見於太平盛世，為鳥中之長，意指君王，臨天下，尊攝百官，比寓君臣之義。圖中鳥雀各類，代表「五倫」之道，鳳示君臣，鶴示父子，鴛鴦示夫妻，鶺鴒示兄弟，黃鶯示朋友。見一明代畫例，繪上述五對雀鳥，載於 Terese Bartholomew，《中國吉祥圖案》，三藩市，2006年，圖6.37.4。

百鳥朝鳳圖可見於各式瓶器，參考一粉彩乾隆年製款，售於倫敦蘇富比1992年6月9日，編號290。另見一對乾隆掐絲琺瑯瓶，售於摩納哥蘇富比1982年2月9日，編號1256。