Page 258 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Fine Chinese Works of Art

3062 Continued

Incense burners in the form of peacocks are very rare; compare with 孔雀直立回首，圓眼，尖嘴，口微張，身中空，長尾。身體以寶藍間綠琺瑯釉為地，
three single examples, the first from Mrs L. E. Redding, sold at Sotheby's
London, 14 December 1971, lot 5; the second sold at Sotheby's London, 掐絲作羽紋。翅膀可開合，為蓋，綠、寶藍琺瑯釉掐絲羽毛及翅膀。尾上端鏨花細
21 May 1963, lot 102; the third from the C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love 毛，枝細長，綠琺瑯釉為地，其末端施藍琺瑯釉，中間點紅，構成大型眼狀斑。
Collection, sold at Christie's New York, 20 October 2004, lot 588. A pair of
similar censers was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1283. 此器造型優雅，紋飾鑲嵌精細，以掐絲琺瑯和鏨花相結合的工藝，讓這對孔雀更
Compare the fine sculptural form to similar metalwork dating to the 為生動，栩栩如生。當香在腹中點起，煙於口中緩緩飄出，配上它們華麗的造型，
Qianlong period. See for example the gilt-copper crane modelled 仿入仙境。
supporting on its back a pavilion-shaped musical clock, included in the
exhibition Moments of Eternity, Timepieces Collection from the Palace
Museum, Macau Museum of Art, 2004, and illustrated in the Catalogue, 孔雀被視為「百鳥之王」，是吉祥、善良、美麗、華貴的象徵。圓明園內曾飼養孔
p. 111, no. 27. Although in gilt-copper, the stance of the bird with its 雀，以供乾隆皇帝賞玩。故宮藏乾隆二十三年（1758年）作《乾隆觀孔雀開屏圖橫
spiralling neck turned towards it back, and the detailing of the feathers 幅》，畫中描寫的便是乾隆皇帝在御花園中觀賞孔雀的情景，詳見故宮博物院藏
compare closely with the present peacocks.
文物珍品全集《清代宮廷繪畫》（香港：商務印書館，1996）第194及195頁（圖一）。
Peacocks are considered auspicious birds and it is known that such birds 乾隆在畫上親筆御題：「西域職貢昭咸賓，畜籠常見非奇珍。珠毛翠角固可愛，孚
were kept by Emperor Qianlong in the palace grounds. A large hanging 卵成雛曾罕聞。數歲前乃育兩鶵，雞伏翼之領哺噣。淋滲弱質隨雌雞，老雀籠中
scroll entitled: Qianlong guan kong que kai ping, 'Emperor Qianlong
watching the Peacock in its pride', dated to the cyclical wuyin year 情反邈。三年小尾五年大，花下開屏金翠簸。綷羽映日煥輝輝，圜眼淩風張箇箇。
(1758) depicts a scene of the seated Emperor observing peacocks in the 低飛嫩篠高屋檐，繡翣雙窺玳瑁簾。招之即來拍之舞，那慮翻翱蔥嶺尖。於禽亦
imperial gardens, see Paintings of the Court Artists of the Qing Court, The 識土產好，菁莪棫樸風人藻。盈廷濟濟故未能，離文朅覽慚懷抱。」
Complete Collection of the Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong,
1996, pp. 194-195 (fig. 1). The inscription on the painting recorded by the
Emperor indicates that peacocks were sent as tributary gifts from foreign 以孔雀為造型的香爐極為罕見，2006年5月30日香港佳士得拍出了一對與此器甚
dignitaries. The Emperor further noted on the painting that when at leisure 為接近的孔雀香爐，拍品1283號。另一例為 Mrs. L.E. Redding的舊藏，1971年12月
he took pleasure in watching these curious birds sway their bodies around 14日於倫敦蘇富比拍賣，拍品5號，另一件則於1963年5月21日經倫敦蘇富比拍出，
the palace grounds; he admired their beautiful feathers and after five years
of nurture, the birds had learned to fan their tails. 拍品102號。另見北京故宮博物館收藏之乾隆時期銅鍍金仙鶴馱亭式錶，其裝飾
手法與本對孔雀相若，該例曾於澳門藝術博物館2004年舉辦《日升月恒—故宮珍
藏鐘錶文物》展覽中展出，圖錄圖版27號。

fig. 1 Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing
圖一 北京故宮博物院藏品

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