明天啟 青花花鳥仙人紋小盤

the shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot, freely painted to the interior with an immortal riding on a double gourd in a landscape under the moon, encircled by a band of cash coin at the rim, the exterior with birds perched on fruiting peach branches divided by circles, inscribed to the base with an apocryphal six-character Hongwu reign mark within a double circle

仁德行，香港，1960年
Bluett & Sons Ltd，倫敦，1960年 (£12:10)
羅傑琵金頓 (1928-69年)收藏， 自1962年 (£21)

As visible in the catalogue photo, there is a 1cm shallow chip at the 8 o clock position. Another smaller 0.2cm chip to the 6 o clock position. Other general typical fritting to the rim, and minor surface wear. The porcelain is of a more delicate greyish-blue colour than in the catalogue photo, where it has emerged too bleached a white colour.
"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."

一對繪近似串枝花鳥圖盤，可資比對，為 Robert 及 Ann Walker Bell 舊藏，現存多倫多卡蒂納陶瓷博物館，錄於 Patricia F. Ferguson 著，《Cobalt Treasures》，多倫多，2003年，圖版36；另見一例，出自 Charles Russell 雅藏，出版於 R.L. Hobson 著，《Chinese Ceramics in Private Collections》，倫敦，1931年，圖版305；亦見一例，屬 H.F. Parfitt 舊藏，售於倫敦蘇富比1946年2月8日，編號26；另有兩類例，皆售於香港蘇富比，其一於1977年12月1日，編號430，其二於1978年5月27日，編號467。