明末 傳朱鶴製竹圓雕古松水丞

delicately carved as a hollowed-out trunk section of a burled pine tree, the exterior further well rendered in openwork with gnarled branches bearing clusters of pine needles, the stippled grained surface of a dark reddish-brown colour, wood stand

Bluett & Sons Ltd，倫敦，1968年6月

葉義及譚志成，《中國竹刻藝術》，上冊，香港藝術館，香港，1978年，編號7及彩圖版4（左一）
曾柱昭及莫士撝，《文玩萃珍》，香港大學馮平山博物館，香港，1986年，編號79

The waterpot is in very good condition with the fragile extremities well preserved. There are a couple of expected insignificant flakes and short age cracks.
"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."

圓雕水丞，作蒼松古樸，盤曲遒勁，鱗皴癭節，鏤空層次分明，栩栩如生，包漿滋潤，意趣天然。小巧玲瓏，恰宜掌中把玩細味，雅置文房案桌，既為實用，也可清賞，為書齋添趣。

此水丞上之枝莖矯壯，松葉繁而不亂，偶綴癭瘤開裂，綻開樹皮層層疊疊，細訴古松高壽之齡。其竹雕風格，與南京博物院藏明代朱鶴雕竹松鶴筆筒所見不謀而合，大有可能同出朱鶴之手。南京藏筆筒，以松樁為形，高浮雕枝葉繁茂，間立二鶴，滿綴松鱗，並見皺瘤綻裂樹皮疊皺，背面添飾逸竹秀梅，成就歲寒三友之圖。該筆筒背面陰刻五十餘字，紀年辛未（1511年），署款松鄰朱鶴，著錄甚豐，包括王世襄，《竹刻藝術》，北京，1980年，2013年重刊本，頁26-27，圖2，及《竹鏤文心：竹刻珍品特集》，上海，2012年，編號001。此水丞雖未有署款，同為晚明之作，但明顯帶有名家朱鶴之風，極為難得。

朱鶴（約1497-約1550年），字子鳴，號松鄰，家族原籍安徽，後遷江蘇嘉定。鶴少時工篆學印章，又因其祖業雕刻而熟諳雕鏤之技，除篆刻更「旁及雕鏤小玩」，嘗作筆筒、香筒、杯、罌等，開嘉定竹刻先流，身後遺製諸器，為世所珍，惜傳世甚罕。

瑞典國王古斯塔夫六世．阿道夫舊藏竹雕梅樁水丞，風格與此相近，同以瘤裂作口，沿邊轉折細節，皆與此類，圖見《Chinese Art from the Collection of H.M. King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden》，大英博物館，倫敦，1972年，編號179。