清乾隆 剔紅嵌寶太平有象蓋盒

of circular form and supported on a short foot, the cover skilfully embellished with a large jade elephant incised with naturalistic detail and applied with two curled bone tusks, its back decorated with a tasselled caparison supporting a saddle filled with gnarled stems, attended by four foreign tribute bearers amidst a landscape scene, detailed with pine and wutong trees growing and embellished in hardstone, as well as mountains carved through the lacquer in the background, all set against a diapered lacquer ground of varying designs, the sides of the cover and box carved with a continuous floral scroll wreathed by dense foliage, the interiors lacquered gold and the base black

香港蘇富比2008年4月11日，編號2865

All the embellishments on this magnificent and extremely rare lacquer box have been preserved well. There are several small issues that in no way detract from the overall beauty of the box and cover, which are in remarkably good condition, including a 1cm chip to the inner flange of the box, a small area of the vase on top of the elephant separated and skilfully restuck, and rubbing to the clouds. There is minor loss of paint to several areas, including the blanket on the elephant. Other minor cracks and surface wear. The inner flanges of the box and cover may have been retouched at some point.
"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."

本盒製作精細，用料講究，反映了乾隆皇朝之繁榮富庶。《髹飾錄》曰：「百寶嵌，珊瑚、琥珀、瑪瑙、寶石、玳瑁、螺鈿、象牙、犀角之類，與彩漆板子錯雜而鐫刻鑲嵌者，貴甚」；明高濂著《遵生八箋》記載百寶嵌「其費心思工本，為一代之絕」。百寶嵌器物極為奢侈，非平民百姓所能負擔。此盒用玉、象牙等珍貴材質作紋飾，需不同的作坊、工匠合作方能完成。每一個細節經精心雕琢，呈現百寶嵌工藝的珍貴華麗，乾隆朝工藝製作頂峰之作。

見一漆地嵌百寶五桃盒，售於倫敦蘇富比2010年5月11日，編號51。清宮舊藏一件剔紅嵌玉磬式二層盒，錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．清代漆器》，香港，2006年，圖版16。清宮舊藏另一件百寶嵌白象進寶圭形盒，見前書，圖版187。另有清宮舊藏白寶嵌洗象圖盒，見前書，圖版179。

象背馱寶瓶，寓意太平有象。胡人獻寶是各類藝術品常用的裝飾紋飾，象徵國力強盛、天下太平，社會繁榮昌盛、萬邦來朝的現實反映。