Page 77 - Sotheby's Important Jades, Amber & Hardstones Oct. 3, 2018

The carver has successfully captured the jovial and carefree 此擺件刻工精練，人物刻畫細膩，將二老泛舟悠然自得之
nature of the subject on the present piece, the animated 神髓展現無遺。匠人利用琥珀玲瓏剔透之特點，二人神態
features of the figures appearing to move as light passes 於流光溢彩之間變化靈動，躍現眼前。二老撫琴對酎，相
through the amber. As suggested by the two small cups and
談正酣，琥珀色澤古樸，更顯其渾然天成。舟上蟠桃枝葉
qin, the two seated sages seem to have been captured at
the height of their conversation. Such naturalism is heighten 茂盛，平添吉祥喜兆。
by the warm reddish brown colour of the medium, while the
auspiciousness of the scene is indicated through the gnarled
琥珀為脆弱的有機化石，其工藝品存世稀少，如此體積者
leafy branches of peaches.
更是鳳毛麟角。此擺件無論色調、主題，均與犀角雕仙人
It is extremely rare to find amber carvings of this size, possibly
乘槎杯可比，兩者皆極為罕見，如一例晚明作品，為清宮
due to the scarcity of such large pieces of fossilised resin
舊藏，現仍貯北京，載於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品大系：
and its inherent fragility. In colour and subject, this carving
is reminiscent of the highly prized and rare rhinoceros horn 竹木牙角雕刻》，上海，2002年，圖版119。另有類似之
log-raft cups, such as one attributed to the late Ming dynasty, 玉製擺件，如一白玉二老泛舟擺件，為 Oliver Smalley 伉
in the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, published in 儷私人收藏，售於紐約蘇富比1989年9月28至29日，編號
The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. 548，及一白玉麻姑賀壽擺件，售於香港蘇富比2005年5
Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Shanghai,
2002, pl. 119. Compare also jade versions, such as a white 月2日，編號695。
jade carving of two figures on a boat rendered in the form of
a tree trunk with extending leafy fronds on the side, from the
estate of Mr & Mrs Oliver Smalley, sold in our New York rooms,
28th/29th September 1989, lot 548; and a tree trunk-form raft
carved with a seated female immortal and an acolyte boy, sold
in our Hong Kong rooms, 2nd May 2005, lot 695.

IMPORTANT JADES, AMBERS AND HARDSTONES FROM A DISTINGUISHED CONNOISSEUR 75