明萬曆 青花十六子嬰戲圖圓蓋盒 《大明萬曆年製》款

of circular form, brightly painted in vivid shades of cobalt blue, the stepped domed cover with a central medallion enclosing sixteen boys at play in a fenced garden, with a boy dressed as a dignitary seated on a chair at the centre leading other boys around to read, beside a boy flying a kite and another group of boys gathered around a table, in the foreground a boy holding a flag behind another boy wearing an official hat riding on a hobby horse, next to another group of boys at play with garden foliage, the sides of the cover and the box decorated with striding dragons in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', the rims encircled by the babao ('Eight Treasures') alternating with stylised lingzhi sprays, skirted around the foot with a band of foliate scrolls, the base with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle

法國私人收藏

The box and cover is in overall good condition, with only some typical light scratches and surface wear, including a small area to the centre of the cover (visible in the catalogue photos). There are also some expected firing imperfections, such as fritting to the edges, minor firing crackles and burst bubbles.
"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."

本蓋盒繪童子嬉戲圖，姿態各異，自然可愛，足見萬曆年間青花瓷匠之巧藝與新思。百子圖流行於晚明，常見於漆器、織錦、瓷器等，本品繪飾沿襲此風。百子，顧名思義乃時人盼望子孫滿堂、枝葉延綿的祝願，尤其所謂門生貴子，即子孫考獲功名、鯉躍龍門，更是古人日思夜盼的理想。蘇玫瑰認為，本圖含另一寓意，眾童子嬉戲，或與道家返老還童之仙術有關，見其著作，《Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art》，1989年，頁80。萬曆皇帝篤信道教，故瓷匠皆喜以道家禎符為紋飾，以悅君心。

帶此類紋飾之瓷盒，見於世界各地博物館及私人珍藏，可舉清宮舊藏，現仍貯北京，圖見《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．青花釉裏紅（中）》，上海，2000年，圖版181。德雷斯頓 Zwinger 收藏一件，載錄於《Porzellansammlung im Zwinger》，德勒斯登國家藝術收藏館，德雷斯頓，1982年，頁12。另一件現存牛津阿什莫林博物館，圖見 Daisy Lion-Goldschmidt，《Ming Porcelain》，倫敦，1978年，圖版212。紐約大都會藝術博物館亦藏一例，收錄於《Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections》，東京，1982年，卷2，圖版93。再有一例，費城美術館藏，1949年展於其館《Ming Blue-and-White. An Exhibition of Blue-Decorated Porcelain of the Ming Dynasty》，並刊載於館誌《Philadelphia Museum Bulletin》，卷XLIV，223期，1949年秋，圖版141。

拍賣會也曾拍出其它類例，如一器，先後入趙從衍、徐展堂及玫茵堂雅蓄，1987及1997年先後售於香港蘇富比及紐約佳士得，2011年4月7日再次售於香港蘇富比，編號67。紐約蘇富比曾售出另外兩件：第一件兩度售出，分別於1981年11月6日、編號270，及2009年3月17日，編號99；第二件，售於2007年3月20日，編號760。Hans Oström 舊藏一盒，也可資比對，1989年6月13日售於倫敦蘇富比，編號216。