十七世紀 象牙雕半蹲胡人像

sensitively carved as a smiling foreigner in a split stance with both arms held upwards and his palms facing the back, depicted dressed in robes with a knot tied loosely at the front, adorned with bracelets, hoop earrings and a circlet over his black curly hair

In good condition with just typical age cracks and minor general surface wear.
"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."

在十七世紀，福建漳州為國內及歐洲市場雕造了大量的牙雕品，此胡人像極有可能為其中的一件作品。此胡人圓臉、頭髮捲曲、胡服束帶，與 H.R. Norton、 Frederick Mayer 和 Rafi Y. Mottahedeh 夫人舊藏的一對荷蘭商人像相似。該對雕像曾數度現身拍場，最近一次在紐約蘇富比2000年10月19日，編號454。並著錄於 David Howard 和 John Ayers，《China for the West》， 卷2，倫敦，1978年，圖版 684。書中筆者認為胡人特別的行為態度，可滿足漢人之好奇心，並非為出口市場而作（頁660）。該對胡人曾展出於東方陶瓷學會展覽，見《Chinese Ivories from the Shang to the Qing》，大英博物館，倫敦，1984年，編號134，展覽目錄中提到此對胡人身上的裝束正是十七世紀下半葉荷蘭、法國和英國流行的時髦服裝。

此胡人半跪，雙手高舉，應受人形底座啟發而作。可作比較的半跪胡人像，其一手高舉，另一手垂放於膝，於紐約蘇富比1982年2月26日拍賣，編號258，香港佳士得1996年4月28日再次拍賣，編號539。另一件半跪童子為美國克里夫蘭美術館藏，曾展出於《Severance and Greta Millikin Collection》， 克里夫蘭，1990年，編號171。一件掐絲琺瑯爐，下承胡人足，為北京故宮博物院所藏，見《中國美術全集．金銀玻璃琺瑯器》，卷10，北京，1987年，圖版310。