Page 311 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

This outstanding gilt-bronze figure of a recumbent lion is 此件鎏金銅臥獅，屬現存少數早明品質精良鎮紙
one of a small number of high-quality paperweights dating 之一，通體紮實，造形自然生動，線條細節層次
to the early Ming dynasty. Heavily cast and intricately 豐富，及鎏金厚實等特點，乃明初鑄造工藝頂尖
modelled with varying layers of relief delineating the 之傑作，與常見之晚明宣德仿款之器截然不同。
animal in full naturalistic detail and richly gilded, it is in 同類作宣德年款之例，可參考小孤山館藏例，錄於
itself a masterpiece of early Ming craftsmanship, not to be
confused with the large number of later Ming wares bearing 《微妙玄通：中國藝術之石境》，吉美國立亞洲藝術
apocryphal Xuande marks.For another Xuande reign-marked 博物館，巴黎，2012年，編號58。另一件署宣德年款
example from the Xiaogushan Guan studio collection, see 之鎏金器，可參考一鎏金銅「寶鴨」薰爐，售於香港
Rochers de lettrés, Itinéraires de l’Art en Chine, Musée des 蘇富比2014年4月8日，編號85，及其拍品專文。亦可
Arts Asiatiques Guimet, Paris, 2012, cat. no. 58. For other 比較一件宣德年款龍紋爐，售於香港蘇富比2011年10
gilt-bronze wares cast with genuine Xuande reign marks, see 月5日，編號1943，本品整體鑄造之質量，細節掌握
the discussion on a gilt-bronze incense burner and cover in 大膽明確，鎏金光亮耀眼，都與後期之器明顯不同。
the form of a duck, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2014, lot
85. Compare also a Xuande reign-marked ‘dragon’ incense
burner, sold in these rooms, 5th October 2011, lot 1943, 此類獸形鎮紙起源於古代蓆鎮，日本美秀美術館藏
where, as in the current piece, the quality and weight of the 一對西漢錯銀虎形銅鎮，錄於《Ancient Art from the
casting, boldness of the detailing and brilliance of the gilding, Shumei Family Collection》，大都會藝術博物館，紐
distinguish it from later interpretations. 約，1986年，編號65。另一件早明獅形銅鎮紙，鎏
Paperweights in the form of animal figures have their origin 金嵌百寶，現藏維多利亞與艾伯特博物館（Salting
in mat weights from antiquity. For a pair of Western Han 捐贈，M.741-1910），見柯玫瑰，《Later Chinese
silver-inlaid bronze weights in the form of tigers, preserved Bronzes》，倫敦，1990年，頁88，圖版72。此件維多
in the Miho Museum in Japan, see Ancient Art from the 利亞與艾伯特博物館收藏鎮紙，獸身渾圓立體，頸背
Shumei Family Collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 焰毛層疊之貌，背脊鈕狀凸稜，倨傲謹慎之神情，皆
New York, 1986, cat. no. 65. For another early Ming dynasty 與本拍品相近。亦可參考一件元代或早明嵌百寶鎏金
bronze ‘lion’ paperweight, partially gilt and inlaid with semi- 銅雙螭龍紋鎮紙，售於香港蘇富比2004年10月31日，
precious, preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum (Salting 編號14，此例風格鮮明自然，螭龍身形精壯，鬃毛層
Bequest, M.741-1910), see Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes,
London, 1990, p.88, pl.72. The V & A example shares several 次豐富，鎏金厚實，亦與本品相近。還有一件明代玉
features with the current lot, notably similar modelling in 雕瑞獸紙鎮，臥姿類同，線刻鬃毛，獸身壯圓如同本
the round, detailed layering of the flaming mane, knobbed 品，載於羅森，《Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the
spine and proud, alert facial features. See also a Yuan/early Qing》，大英博物館，倫敦，1995年，編號26:17。
Ming dynasty gilt-bronze and hardstone-inlaid paperweight
in the form of two young chilong depicted in confrontation, 明長陵的二石柱，雕於約1426年，上作蹲踞瑞獸，
sold in these rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 14, which is 一為麒麟，其二為臥獅，形象近類此件拍品，見喜
closely related to the current piece in terms of the bold 仁龍，《Histoire des Arts Anciens de la Chine III, La
and naturalistic articulation of the muscular body and fur, Sculpture de L’Époque Han à l’Époque Ming》，巴黎及
through varying layers of relief, and in the richness of the
gilding. 布魯塞爾，1930年，圖版126C、126D。
For a Ming dynasty jade paperweight, worked in the form
of an imaginary beast with similar crouching posture and
delineation of the mane and muscular body as the current
piece, see Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic
to the Qing, British Museum, London, 1995, cat. no. 26:17.
For two stone pillars at the Ming Tombs of Changling, carved
circa 1426, and surmounted by recumbent mythical beasts,
the first of a qilin, the second of a recumbent lion with
iconography closely related to the current lion, see Osvald
Siren, Histoire des Arts Anciens de la Chine. III, La Sculpture
de L’Époque Han à l’Époque Ming, Paris and Brussels, 1930,
pls 126C and 126D.

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