Page 11 - Sotheby's Jie Rui Tang Collection Part II Kangxi Porcelain March 2019

REFLECTIONS

FROM A KANGXI PERIOD ENTHUSIAST

感言

While appreciating a large variety of fine and applied arts, like most 儘管我對許多藝術門類都有所喜愛，但與絕大
collectors I find a special affinity with a particular few. And so it is 多數收藏家一樣，其中僅有一類最為使我動
with Kangxi-era porcelains. Of course there are wonderful examples 容——康熙瓷器。中國瓷器，歷朝皆有珍品，而我
of Chinese ceramics from many eras, but somehow the aesthetics, 對康熙瓷器的美學理念、精巧創思與歷史背景
creativity and historical context of the Kangxi period speak to me more 別有感應。正是這種感應，伴隨著我走過了逾三
strongly, and that affinity has continued to grow through over thirty- 十五載的收藏之路，並使我對康熙瓷器的喜愛
five years of collecting. 與日俱增。
My initial attraction to Kangxi porcelain came simply from the beauty of 最初喜愛康熙瓷器之時，純受其美感所動，喜其
the objects. I really loved the palette of the many shades of sapphire blue 青花瓷藍彩多姿，如藍寶瑰麗，各式彩瓷，色澤
on the blue and white porcelain, as well as the translucent and vibrant 瑩潤，濃艷鮮明。我亦喜愛康熙瓷器上筆法蒼
colors of the enameled porcelain. I also loved the strong and free style of 勁、奔放自如的各類紋飾，此類風格，尤盛於康
painting, which reached its height in the Kangxi period. 熙年間。
And then, a whole new world opened up for me. I began to learn about 隨著我的興趣日益濃厚，我逐漸發現康熙瓷為
the stories painted on many of the pieces. Stories that are an integral 我打開了一個全新的世界。除了感官上的美，
part of the long and continuous culture of China - about historical 這些珍品背後別有典故，涵蓋歷史人物、神話傳
figures, myths, religious gods and goddesses, and Confucian lessons 說、宗教仙人、儒家道德，源遠流長，全皆中國文
of worthy behavior. I also learned about the auspicious meanings 化之中心要領。而紋飾刻劃各種瑞獸花卉，寓意
conveyed in the animals, plants, and flowers depicted; wishes for 吉祥，或祝願科舉高中、運權有道，而祝賀長壽
success on imperial exams, to use power wisely once in office, and 無疆、百年好合、身體安康、多子多孫者，當然
of course, for longevity, marital bliss, good health and a large family 亦不可少。此外，我又對西方中國陶瓷收藏史
with many sons. I also learned about the great history of collecting 有了更多了解，其中尤以十九世紀晚期、二十世
Chinese porcelain in the West, with the emphasis on Kangxi porcelain, 紀初期為研究重點。此門類當中，較知名的美國
particularly in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some of the more 藏家包括James Garland、J. P. Morgan、Henry
prominent American collectors were James Garland, J. P. Morgan, Frick、Joseph Widener、Charles Taft及John D.
Henry Frick, Joseph Widener, Charles Taft and John D. Rockefeller Jr. Rockefeller Jr.，翻閱各人收藏圖錄，竟能辨認多
It is great fun and very satisfying to turn the pages of the old books on 件精品，此中趣味及成功感，令人欣然而喜。
their collections and recognize so many pieces.

KANGXI: THE JIE RUI TANG COLLECTION 9