明嘉靖 礬紅地綠彩嬰戲圖盤 《大明嘉靖年製》款

with shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a flared rim, the interior pencilled in black and filled with green enamel, depicting four boys in a garden landscape among shrubs and pierced rocks, making a marionette dance to the sound of drum and cymbals, with similar scenes repeated to the exterior as a frieze, all reserved on a rich iron-red ground save for white at the rim and the base, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue

John Sparks Ltd，倫敦， 1967年
羅傑琵金頓(1928-69年)收藏，自1967年 (£1700，其一)

Adrian Joseph，《Ming Porcelains: Their Origins and Development》，倫敦，1971年，圖版 48

The dish is in very good condition except for wear to the iron-red glaze of the central well as illustrated, while the glaze is well preserved on the exterior, apart from a glaze pull of green glaze on an immortal's leg. The actual colour of the piece is of a darker tone than the catalogue illustration.
"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."

嘉靖皇帝在位初十年子嗣不興，深受困擾，因此御窰燒製之瓷器多飾嬰戲紋，期盼子孫興旺、多子多福。 觀本器紋飾中秀石旁的牡丹，隋唐年間已在宮廷中養植。

日本陶磁協會曾展出一件相似例，《元明名品展》，東京，1956年，編號147。另一例為 A. Lundgren 及 Hans Öström 舊藏，錄於《Ming-Porzellane in Schwedischen Sammlungen》，柏林， 1935年，編號32a；後售倫敦佳士得2006年7月11日，編號119。