Page 42 - Bonhams Ming and Qing Cloisonne Hong Kong December 2, 2021

Introduced into China in the 14th century during the Yuan dynasty, 盒銅胎，盒蓋掐絲圍作番蓮一朵居於正中，番蓮花瓣作如意雲頭形，
cloisonné enamel wares are widely considered to have reached 內填赤、綠、青、黃、白色料，番蓮周圍以連枝番蓮紋，枝葉填綠
artistic maturity during the first half of the 15th century, where the 料，花朵作雜色。以松石色料為地，盒壁及盒身皆然。外壁上下飾連
production was strictly regulated by the Yuyongjian, a division of the 枝番蓮紋，番蓮花瓣有五色，以銅絲作枝蔓連接，婉轉起伏。盒內裡
Imperial Household. The present lot is an exceptionally rare example 及外底鎏金，盒蓋內裡及盒外底鏨刻「大明景泰年製」六字楷書款。
of this early period, bearing two incised Imperial Jingtai reign marks,
demonstrating the bold palette and decorative elements which were 掐絲琺瑯器自宋元時期傳入中國，至明代十五世紀中期前後發展興
inherited from earlier examples dating to the Xuande period. 盛。明代初期的掐絲琺瑯器在宮中御用監的嚴格控制下已經成為皇室
御用的工藝品。而景泰御前作之掐絲琺瑯器，更被視為可與宣德之銅
Compare with a very similar box but of smaller size (8.4cm diam.), 器、成化之窯器、永樂果園廠之漆器相媲美。
first half 15th century, formerly in the collection of Sir Harry Garner
and now in the Pierre Uldry Collection, illustrated by H.Brinker and 此件景泰年款蓋盒，其器型、紋飾風格均可與宣德時期同類掐絲琺瑯
A.Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonné: Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Zurich, 器做比較，可比較一件 Harry Garner爵士舊藏，現藏Pierre Uldry之十
1984. pls.12 and 12a. The Uldry box is inscribed on the base with 五世紀上半葉掐絲琺瑯番蓮紋蓋盒，尺寸稍小（直徑8.4 cm），但紋
two characters reading zhengzhai (House of Zheng) which may be a 飾風格與此拍品基本一致，亦是以如意頭形花瓣飾番蓮花，盒底鏨刻
house name. Compare also a box and cover decorated with a similar 「政宅」款，或為舊家名號，見 H.Brinker及 A.Lutz著《Chinesisches
lotus blossom but with a slightly different palette, Xuande period, in the Cloisonné: Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry》，蘇黎世，1984年，圖版12
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, illustrated by B.Quette, ed., 及12a。另可參考George Walter Vincent Smith藝術博物館藏一件明
Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, 宣德番蓮紋蓋盒，形制裝飾與本件頗似，見B. Quette著《Cloisonné:
New York, 2011, p.37, fig.3.12. See also a closely related cloisonné Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties》，紐
enamel circular box and cover, Xuande period, which was sold at 約，2011年，頁37，圖3.12。
Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2012, lot 2130.
參看舒思深伉儷舊藏一件明宣德掐絲琺瑯番蓮紋蓋盒，尺寸稍大，其
It has been suggested that cloisonné enamel Jingtai reign-marked 紋飾與本拍品非常相似，後於香港佳士得售出，2012年11月28日，拍
wares of the quality of the present box and cover, which stylistically 品編號2130。
relate to Xuande-period wares, are in fact of the Xuande period
but with later incised marks - a phenomenon which can be seen in 近年有研究認為諸多「景泰年製」款的掐絲琺瑯器，都是利用宣德時
early Ming lacquerwares. However, the delicately incised Jingtai six- 期遺存的舊器重新改制而成。此蓋盒盒底及蓋底均陰刻「大明景泰年
character marks on the present lot are similar to the mark on a circular 製」楷書款，其刻款風格可與台北故宮博物院一件明景泰掐絲琺瑯番
cloisonné enamel box and cover, dated as Jingtai mark and of the 蓮紋盒相比較，著錄於《明清琺瑯器展覽圖錄》，台北，1999年，
period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Enamel 編號1。
Ware in the Ming and Ch’ing Dynasty, Taipei, 1999, no.1.

The present box and cover, as well as the Uldry one, are both
unusually decorated with a ruyi within the centre of the main lotus
blossom on the cover. This rare and unusual feature indicates both
were made in the same workshop.

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