Page 52 - Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Christie's Hong Kong May 29, 2019

3114 Continued
The current boxes, richly embellished with precious materials 此盒源自美國富豪慈善家阿斯特（Brooke Astor）夫人。阿斯特
like jadeite and pearls, were in the collection of renowned New 夫人 1902 年出身於美國海軍家庭，父親為海軍軍官，曾隨父居
York philanthropist and socialite Brooke Astor, who once lived 住於中國、多明尼加、海地等國家。她經歷過三段婚姻，她的財
in China with her father, a former Marine commandant. It was
during her childhood in China when she developed a lifelong 產來自她第三任丈夫文森阿斯特。文森阿斯特離世後，她用丈夫
passion for Chinese art and culture, to the point of learning 的名字設立了慈善基金。她於 2007 年 8 月辭世，享年 105 歲。
the language. Brooke Astor passed away in 2007, and is well
remembered as a lively and warm figure tirelessly supporting 當年全世界最富的人之一阿斯特四世（John Jacob Astor IV）帶
various philanthropic causes. 著懷有五個月身孕的十八歲年輕妻子，住進了全鐵達尼號郵輪
These boxes reflect the superb workmanship of Canton 最貴的特等艙裏，他是船上唯一的億萬富翁。在船要沉沒之際，
artisans of the period and are representative of the novelty 他把體弱的太太送上了救生艇，因為當時先要撤退婦孺，他未
items treasured by imperial members of the Qing court. The 能同行，也沒有因為自己特殊的身份要求先被救，終與鐵達尼
surge of consumerism in the 17th and 18th centuries following 號一起沉沒。而他的遺腹子文森阿斯特（Vincent Astor）就是阿
the expansion of urbanisation and commercial activities in 斯特女士的第三任丈夫。
the coastal cities led to a burgeoning demand for luxury items
and foreign curiosities all over the empire. This gave rise to 廣東貢品是指清順治至宣統年間廣東主要官員進貢給皇帝的工
a flourishing metalwork industry in Canton area. Guangzhou 藝陳設、文玩、西洋玩藝。從傳世的貢品中，我們可以看出，
(or Canton), with the establishment of the ‘Thirteen Hongs’
in the Kangxi period, became the exclusive port for foreign 清中期廣州的工藝製造業尤為繁。這極可能是當朝的皇帝癡迷
trade in the 18th century, as well as the main source of foreign 西洋珍寶的緣故。據清史記載乾隆二十三年（1758）他發了一
imports for the imperial court in Beijing. Artisans in the area 道諭旨：「買辦洋鐘錶、西洋金珠、奇異陳設或新樣器物……，
were exposed to a wide array of European products including 皆可不必惜費。」導致乾隆時期廣東貢品製作數量龐大，品質
luxury items and artworks in various materials, bringing about 上乘奢侈。此對盒應為其中之一的精品。廣州因地理環境的優
a distinct Canton style in works of art, well reflected in the
current pair of boxes which embraces both European and 勢，成為清朝主要的對外貿易口岸。當時華洋匯集，除了經營
Chinese decorative elements. 貿易之外，也聚集了華洋能工巧匠，諸如玻璃畫工、製扇匠、
牙匠、漆匠、寶石匠等，也製造出深得皇帝喜愛的以歐洲工藝
The elongated octagonal shape is typically seen among
European metal boxes, and the Canton artisans quickly adopted 融入民族風格的鐘錶、琺瑯、傢具、牙雕等精品。此對盒上鑲
this shape in the tributes made for the imperial court, including 嵌的米珠及料石與同期製作鐘錶上裝飾如出一轍。
a silver filigree box of the same shape and decorated with 可比較一件裝飾手法非常相似的八角嵌翡翠寶盒，盒蓋加添花
coloured stones and enamels, from the Beijing Palace Museum
and included in the exhibition Treasures from Guangdong: 卉紋飾，1917 年 1 月 26 日於紐約山中商會拍賣，拍品 43 號。
Exhibition of Tributes from Guangdong to the Qing Court,
Guangdong Museum, 2005. This box, of slightly larger size, is
attributed as a jewellery box for the imperial consorts according
to the Palace Museum website. Another Canton silver box with
repoussé work and decorated with enamels, also of the same
shape, from the Palace Museum, was exhibited in Tributes
from Guangdong to the Qing Court, Art Gallery, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, 1987, Catalogue, no. 40.
A similarly decorated octagonal box, but with additional floral
design on the cover, was sold at Yamanaka & Co., New York,
26 and 27 January 1917, lot 43.

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