北宋 龍泉青釉劃牡丹紋梅瓶

sturdily potted with a tapering body sweeping up to a broad shoulder and surmounted by a short neck and lipped mouth-rim, the exterior carved with large peony blooms with slender undulating petals above a thin concave band and a broad frieze enclosing upright petal lappets encircling the lower section of the vessel, covered unctuously overall save for the countersunk base with a translucent celadon glaze densely suffused with a network of ice crackles

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59

The piece is in very good condition, with just minor glaze flakes around the shoulder.
"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."

此梅瓶造型素雅，為北宋早期龍泉青瓷罕例。龍泉窰位於浙江省龍泉市，創燒於三國兩晉，後來風靡一時。該窰地處中國東南部，北宋時期，北方諸窰競爭激烈，如陝西耀州窰，毗鄰權勢之地，更具地理優勢。早期龍泉青瓷釉色淡青，劃花細膩，有別於晚期龍泉青瓷釉色深綠，裝飾隨性，時出無紋之作。相較之下，早期龍泉青瓷與同省北部之越窰及北方耀州窰風格更為相似，早年常誤以為越窰所製。龍泉窰雖受越窰影響顯著，然北宋時期已見獨特風格，刻劃紋樣精美，線條細緻生動。如此清雅之梅瓶，誠早期典範，實屬罕珍。

從五代時以燒製隨葬禮器為主，至北宋時期轉燒質佳日常器皿，龍泉青瓷所用材質及工藝改變甚大。對比五代時期之梅瓶，風格嬗變立見，五代工藝略嫌粗糙，寬肩較為明顯，劃纏枝牡丹紋，上下綴蓮瓣，錄於《龍泉青瓷》，北京，1966年，圖版2。

此梅瓶頸部略寬，瓶肩圓潤，器形比例和諧勻稱。纏枝牡丹紋繁密細緻，飾瓶身三分之二，比例恰到好處，不感擁擠，優雅大氣，青釉泛藍，尤為出眾。相類之梅瓶，比例不一，紋樣一般較窄，且釉色泛黃近橄欖，未及此悅目。見一尺寸稍大出土於浙江省松陽縣之梅瓶，現藏松陽縣博物館，肩部環綴葉瓣紋，著錄甚豐，如朱伯謙，《龍泉窰青瓷》，1998年，台北，圖版69；以及《中國龍泉青瓷》，杭州，1998年，圖版47及封面。另見一略小之例，紋飾細密，為 Herbert Ingram 爵士伉儷舊蓄，現藏牛津阿什莫林博物館，錄於《世界陶磁全集》，卷12，東京，1977年，彩圖版179。另有三例見諸拍賣，其一為德馨書屋舊藏，售於紐約蘇富比2008年3月18日，編號86；第二例飾有兩圈纏枝花，且有一圈花瓣，卻較寬，售於香港蘇富比1996年11月5日，編號725；第三例為養德堂舊藏，尺寸較小，飾纏枝牡丹紋，下添五層交錯相疊之花瓣紋，售於紐約蘇富比2015年3月17日，編號64。