清乾隆 青花折枝花果紋六方瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

sturdily potted of hexagonal section, the baluster body supported on a splayed foot, set with a waisted trumpet neck of conforming section, the sides well painted in brilliant tones of cobalt blue with simulated 'heaping and piling' with boughs of pomegranate, peach and persimmon alternating with flowering branches, decorated with spandrels painted as spiky lotus scrolls, springing from linked trefoils encircling the foot and pendent ruyi border around the shoulder, the neck and foot similarly painted with floral sprays divided by matching spandrels, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark

It is in overall very good condition with only a couple of underglaze body lines and some glaze crackles.
"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."

此六方瓶造形宏偉，成形不易，大器寥寥，可見清代瓷匠工藝精益求精，力求迎合當朝皇帝審美情趣。雍、乾二帝皆好仿製古器，以示當朝盛世上承華夏正統，更時添洋風紋飾，揉合中西傳統，別具新意、巧妙奪目。

明初青花瓷之器形紋飾，於清朝復興一時，本瓶即為一例。青花折枝花果，始見於永樂年間，時景德鎮御窰瓷匠工精藝巧，紋飾推陳出新。本瓶之花果紋，與永窰經典梅瓶上綴折枝花果紋一脈相承，參見北京故宮博物院藏例，錄於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．青花釉裏紅（上）》，香港，2000年，圖版30，或拍品編號3620。本瓶以鈷料點苔，鈔仿回青黑疵，重現明初青花瓷特色，足見清代匠人對鈷料掌握純熟自如。

雍正年間，瓷匠常以明初青花瓷樣式為模本，卻非一成不變。本品即為一例，以新創六方瓶式，以中國傳統花果為飾，卻融入西洋藝風，如邊角上之卷草洋花。此類六方大瓶，始製於雍正年間，又深得乾隆歡心，續有延燒，不僅賞心悅目，更彰顯大清帝國面朝四方、兼容並蓄之泱泱氣度。

南京博物院藏一件近例，見《宮廷珍藏 ．中國清代官窰瓷器》，上海，2003年，圖版212。另一例錄於《開館記念．松岡美術館名品図錄》，東京，1975年，圖版102。另有一瓶，兩次售於香港蘇富比，1991年4月30日，編號73及2011年10月5日，編號1920，錄於《香港蘇富比二十周年》，1993年，圖版166。香港蘇富比1981年5月20日也拍出一例，編號764，錄於耿寶昌，《明清瓷器鑑定》，香港，1993年，頁274，圖469。香港佳士得1998年4月27日且售一瓶，編號724，收錄於朱湯生，《中國瓷器莊紹綏收藏》，香港，2008年，圖版36。瓦德西將軍舊藏六方對瓶，則售於倫敦蘇富比2006年7月12日，編號116。另可參考一件雍正款雛型，乃 Grandidier 舊藏，現存法國巴黎吉美國立亞洲藝術博物館，刊於《東洋陶磁大觀》，卷7，東京，1981年，圖版164。雍正及乾隆年製之瓶極為相似，故本品可能為乾隆初年之作。