蔡辰男收藏，1980年代末入藏

整體品相良好，惟底有舊磕及自然綹紋。
我們很高興為您提供上述拍品狀況報告。由於敝公司非專業修復人員，在此敦促您向其他專業修復人員索取諮詢，以獲得更詳盡、專業之報告。

準買家應該檢查每款拍品以確認其狀況，蘇富比所作的任何陳述均為專業主觀看法而非事實陳述。準買家應參考有關該拍賣的重要通知（見圖錄）。

雖然本狀況報告或有針對某拍品之討論，但所有拍賣品均根據印於圖錄內之業務規則以拍賣時狀況出售。

Superbly carved with a delicate figural scene, this piece is a rare example of the masterful workmanship of craftsmen active in the eighteenth century. The sheer skill of the carver is demonstrated through his success in taking an image derived from a painting or woodblock and successfully transcribing it onto a three-dimensional object whilst preserving the most desirable features of the natural golden pebble.

Essentially retaining the original shape of the asymmetrical boulder, the carver has masterfully worked through the convoluted surface of the stone to create a continuous, three-dimensional canvas for the relief decoration. This treatment deviated from the conventional techniq🦋ue where the boulder was usually cut into cuboid shapes and carved with three-dimensional finials for seals. This acute utilisation of the natural shape of the stone fully exemplifies the artist’s understanding of the material and his technical perfection.

Moreover, the pale ochre-yellow skin of the stone (pu) is seamlessly incorporated into the overall design, creating an effect similar to that of a cameo relief. The natural, paler pigmentation of the oxidised pebble skin subtly contrasts with the boulder of slightly darker tone. This sensitive preservation of the skin on the present piece creates a subtle three-dimensionality appropriate to the scene presented. The delicacy of f𒁏emininity is suggested through the exquisitely rendered branches which frame the ladies’ activities.

See a boulder carving rendered with pine trees growing from rocky grounds and five bats flying amidst wispy clouds, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1901. Seals were also carved in a similar style; for example one, depicting the scene Qiujian daidu [Waiting for the ferry on an autumn river], in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is published on the Museum’s website //www.dpm.org.cn/collection/seal/228550.html; and another carved with dragons, attributed to the Kangxi period, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection, was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong exhibition Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, ജHong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 54.