北宋 耀州青釉刻牡丹花斗笠盌一對

each of conical form, finely potted with wide flaring sides rising from a short straight foot to a lipped rim, the interior deftly and intricately carved with three lush peony blooms and trefoil leaves issuing from two parallel stalks, the petals and the leaves further accentuated with combed details, all below a line border, freely decorated on the exterior with stylised blooms and broad leaves, applied overall in an olive-green glaze that pools to a deeper tone in the recessed areas, the knife-pared foot unglazed revealing the grey ware

Charles E. Russell (1866-1960年)收藏
倫敦蘇富比1960年7月12日，編號156(£1100)及157(£1200)
Bluett & Sons Ltd，倫敦，1960年 (£2300)
羅傑琵金頓(1928-69年)收藏， 自1960年 (£2300)

《International Exhibition of Chinese Art》， 皇家藝術學院，倫敦，1935-6年， 編號 1346 及 1348

Roy Davids 及 Dominic Jellinek，《Provenance. Collectors, Dealers and Scholars: Chinese Ceramics in Britain and America》， Great Haseley，2011年，圖版133

One bowl is preserved in good condition, with just typical firing imperfections and minor fritting to the rim. The other bowl has been broken and sympathetically refixed, with minute areas of overpainting, but is structurally intact. The bowls are a well matched pair.
"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."

此對耀州窰小盌，既保留耀州瓷之經典風格，又見與眾不同之處，甚爲珍貴。兩盌無論器形或紋飾，皆極為相似，自宋代成對留存至今，實屬難得。

耀州窰，位於陝西省銅川市黃堡鎮，唐宋時期歸耀州治，以大量燒製紋飾類同之茶器食盌而聞名，同時亦產少數風格獨特之佳品。此對盌曾與另一耀州窰淨水瓶（拍品編號5）同列於1935年英國皇家藝術學院展覽，並售於倫敦蘇富比 Charles Russell 專場拍賣，誠然宋耀州窰之精品。1960年售出之時，此對盌之珍罕已為世人矚目，並以倒流壺售價近四倍之高價成交。

如此通體紋飾之耀州窰盌，內壁至口沿及外壁皆刻花，精巧細膩，匠心獨運，極為罕有。常見耀州窰盌僅內壁裝飾，外壁及口沿一圈無紋。此二盌更形與圖案樣式皆極為近似，與同類耀州窰盌大為不同，可見其屬成對專燒，異於常見宋代瓷盌之後配作對。

見相類對盌破片，外壁見有圖案，口沿則無，出土於耀州窰址，刊《宋代耀州窰址》，北京，1998年，圖版29，編號1及2，及頁129，編號71:10；及兩盌例，外壁、口沿皆素面，見圖版29，編號3，及頁131，編號72:1及2。

另可比他例，口沿無紋，刻花風格略異，見一相若對盌，刻一花開兩苞紋樣，素口，外壁刻纏枝花，售於香港蘇富比1995年10月31日，編號345。另有一盌，載《耀州窰の青磁》，東洋陶磁美術館，大阪，1991年，圖錄編號25。一種相類圖案樣式，較爲常見，其兩花枝相交，相反倒映，上見一二花朵略小，含苞待展，內沿寬素紋帶，外壁亦無紋飾，參比一盌，售於倫敦蘇富比1984年12月11日，編號248。另有一例，售於紐約佳士得2011年9月16日，編號1467。

關於此對盌前藏家 Charles Earnest Russell 之記述，詳見拍品編號5。