金 磁州白釉黑牡丹花矮梅瓶

well potted with an almost globular body rising from a countersunk base to a short waisted neck and flaring mouth-rim, the exterior freely decorated in dark brown slip and highlighted with incisions with three large peony blooms wreathed by slender leaves, each blossom with a butterfly fluttering nearby, all against a creamy-white slip applied to the exterior save for the footring, the unglazed pale grey footring fired to a light buff-orange tone

鴻禧美術館收藏，台北

史彬士（編纂），《中國歷代陶瓷選集》，鴻禧美術館，台北，1990年，編號48

It is in overall good condition, except for a glaze flake of approx. 3 cm and a few small kiln grits to the mouthrim. The meiping also has other original firing imperfections including a kiln grit of approx. 3.8 cm to its widest part of the body, firing lines, glaze pulls and burst air bubbles.
"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."

瓷匠先於器面上白色化妝土，再以黑彩揮毫繪牡丹，然後劃花並用篦紋綴細節，展現河北磁州觀台窰之獨特風格。縱使自金朝始北方各磁州窰系均有燒製白地黑花瓷，惟均不及觀台風格嫻熟。其黑花繪畫明快，宛如寫意水墨，篦紋則如書法飛白，猶若枯筆牽絲留空。

觀台窰址出土多件相似殘例及碎片，見《觀台磁州窰址》，北京，1997年，其中一殘片，與此尤為接近，圖版XIII，編號3中，另可比較彩圖版IX，編號2 、彩圖版XI，編號1右、圖版XXIII，編號1-2、圖版XXVIII，編號4、頁123-129，圖52、53及56；還有數例，器形相近，見圖版XXII，編號6及頁123，圖52。

東京國立博物館收藏一例，器形紋飾相近，載於《東京國立博物館圖版目錄．中國古陶磁篇I》，東京，1988年，編號567，同書並載一例，飾蓮花蝴蝶，編號566。救世箱根美術館藏例，口沿與此略異，曾展於《Freedom of Clay and Brush Through Seven Centuries in Northern China》，印第安納波利斯美術館，印第安納波利斯，1980年，編號 87，並見於封面。另有一例，缺蝴蝶，現藏堪薩斯城納爾遜．阿特金斯美術館，出處同上，編號88。東京出光美術館且有一例，也無蝴蝶，圖見《中國陶磁：出光美術館藏品図錄》，東京，1987年，圖版512。另有數例可作參考，一例飾有蝴蝶，售於紐約佳士得1996年9月19日，編號254，另一例則只飾花卉，未見飛蝶，售於紐約佳士得1995年3月23日，編號348，後於紐約蘇富比2006年9月21日易手，編號97。近觀各例，微處稍異，彰顯每品特點，如劃花細節、花葉大小比例、蝴蝶飾紋等，細部不同，樂亦無窮也。