三彩筆記 vol.38 蘇黎世瑞特堡博物館：唐三彩藍釉龜 - Rietberg Museum, Tang Sancai Blue-Glazed Tortoise, Tang Dynasty
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唐代藍釉極為珍稀，使用從西域（波斯或中亞）進口的鈷料（cobalt oxide）作為著色劑，燒成後呈深邃鮮豔的藍色，常與鐵質琥珀（amber，黃褐）釉、銅質綠釉搭配，形成多色低溫鉛釉陶（sancai 三彩）的變體。藍釉成本高昂（當時價格甚至超過黃金），多用於高級墓葬隨葬品或貴族器物，體現唐代絲路貿易的奢華與技術高峰。鞏縣窯（今河南鞏義）是唐代三彩及多彩釉陶的主要產地，以模製成型、釉色潑灑大膽聞名。這件藍釉龜形器展現自然生動的動物造型，龜殼六角形刻劃，頭部微抬，藍釉覆蓋主要部位，琥珀釉補充細節，極具藝術張力。
歷史背景：唐代（618–907）三彩陶器盛行於7–8世紀，受絲路影響，墓葬隨葬品華麗多樣，包括人物、動物、異域駱駝等。藍釉從武則天時期（7世紀末）開始出現，如李弘及哀皇后墓出土藍釉三彩。8世紀為高峰，之後轉向高溫瓷器。龜象徵長壽、穩重，常見於唐代藝術。
中文標題：藍釉龜形水注 / 藍釉加琥珀彩龜形器
英文標題：Blue and amber-glazed tortoise waterpot / Small blue-glazed tortoise figurine
作者 / 製作者：未知（Urheber*in unbekannt / 作者未知）
產地：中國河南省鞏義市鞏縣窯（Gongxian kilns, Gongyi, Henan Province, China / Gongxian-Öfen, Gongyi, Provinz Henan, China）
年代：唐代，8世紀（Tang Dynasty, 8th century / Tang-Dynastie, 8. Jh.）
器型：小型龜形器（很可能為水注或文房用水滴 / Figur, likely a waterpot or vessel / Figur）
材質與技法：陶器，施藍釉及琥珀色（黃褐）釉（Tonware mit blauer und bernsteinfarbener Glasur / Earthenware with blue and amber glaze）
館藏編號：MYT 1181
尺寸：長度7 cm（Längenmass: 7 cm）
來源 / 信用線：梅茵堂基金會長期借展（Dauerleihgabe Meiyintang Stiftung / Long-term loan from the Meiyintang Foundation）
展出地點：自2012年起，瑞士蘇黎世瑞特堡博物館（Museum Rietberg, Zurich）長期展出
梅茵堂收藏介紹 The Meiyintang Collection
梅茵堂（玫茵堂 / Meiyintang，意為「玫瑰叢中的廳堂」）是全球頂級中國陶瓷私人收藏之一，由兩位瑞士兄弟——吉爾伯特·祖利格（Gilbert Zuellig，1918–2009）與史蒂芬·祖利格（Stephen Zuellig，1917–2017）歷時50餘年（自1950年代末）蒐集而成。兄弟倆在亞洲經營製藥生意，熱愛中國藝術。
吉爾伯特專注早期陶瓷：新石器時代至宋代（宋以前，包括漢唐宋名品）。
史蒂芬專注後期瓷器：元、明、清瓷器，以及商周青銅器。
1990年代起，梅茵堂透過Regina Krahl編著的多卷本《Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection》及多地展覽（如大英博物館、紐約等）揚名。2011–2012年，蘇富比香港拍賣多件元明清瓷器（史蒂芬部分），包括著名成化「雞缸杯」等，成交價動輒數千萬至上億港元（例如部分御瓷逾2億港元）。宋以前部分（吉爾伯特收藏，逾1600件）成立梅茵堂基金會，2012年起約650件長期借展於瑞士瑞特堡博物館（Museum Rietberg，蘇黎世），永久公開展示，涵蓋新石器至宋代陶瓷演變。
瑞特堡博物館：位於蘇黎世，專注非歐洲藝術，自2012年起展出梅茵堂早期陶瓷。
藍釉龜與藏家問答 FAQ
Q：這件龜形器到底是什麼？
A：唐代8世紀鞏縣窯藍釉加琥珀彩龜形水注（或小型器物），長僅7 cm。龜頭微抬、殼刻六角紋，中間三格為注水口，藍釉覆蓋主要部位，琥珀釉點綴，極為罕見（類似例見阿什莫林博物館、波士頓美術館及梅茵堂本件，Krahl 2006, no. 1181）。
Q：唐代藍釉為何特別珍貴？
A：藍釉用進口鈷料，價格勝黃金，多見貴族墓葬。與常見三彩（黃綠白）相比，藍釉稀少，代表絲路奢華與技術巔峰。
Q：梅茵堂的兩兄弟是誰？
A：吉爾伯特·祖利格（Gilbert Zuellig）專收宋以前（新石器至宋）；史蒂芬·祖利格（Stephen Zuellig）專收宋以後（元明清瓷及青銅）。兩人自1950年代起在亞洲蒐集，建構系統性收藏。
Q：明清部分後來怎麼了？
A：2011–2012年蘇富比香港拍賣多件（史蒂芬部分），成交驚人，如成化雞缸杯等御瓷高達數千萬至億級港元。早期部分（宋以前）完整保留於梅茵堂基金會。
Q：現在能在哪裡看到這件藍釉龜？
A：瑞士蘇黎世瑞特堡博物館長期展出（編號MYT 1181），屬梅茵堂借展。
Q：這是三彩器嗎？
A：是的，屬唐代低溫多色鉛釉陶（sancai）範疇，但以罕見藍釉為主，更具收藏價值。
Q：為什麼做成龜形？
A：龜在中國文化象徵長壽、穩重、負重（贔屭形象）。唐代動物造型豐富（如馬、駱駝、異獸），常用於墓葬或文房雅玩。
The object is a small Tang dynasty tortoise figurine from the Meiyintang Collection, on long-term loan to the Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland.
Basic Information (基本資料 / Basic Information)
German / Original Title: Schildkröte (Tortoise)
Chinese Title: 龜形器 / 藍釉龜 (Blue-glazed tortoise figurine / waterpot)
English Title: Tortoise figurine / Blue and amber-glazed tortoise waterpot
Artist / Maker (Urheber*in): Unknown (Urheber*in unbekannt / 作者未知)
Place of Origin (Herstellungsort): Gongxian kilns (Gongyi, Henan Province, China / 中國河南省鞏義市鞏縣窯 / Gongxian-Öfen, Gongyi, Provinz Henan, China)
Date (Datierung): Tang Dynasty, 8th century (唐代，8世紀 / Tang-Dynastie, 8. Jh.)
Object Type (Objekttyp): Figurine (likely a small waterpot or vessel in tortoise form / Figur / 龜形水注或小型器物)
Material and Technique (Material und Technik): Earthenware (pottery) with blue and amber-colored glaze (Tonware mit blauer und bernsteinfarbener Glasur / 陶器，施藍釉及琥珀色/黃褐釉)
Inventory Number (Inventarnummer): MYT 1181
Dimensions (Masse): Length 7 cm (Längenmass: 7 cm / 長度7厘米)
Credit Line (Creditline): Long-term loan from the Meiyintang Foundation (Dauerleihgabe Meiyintang Stiftung / 梅茵堂基金會長期借展)
Provenance (Provenienz): Since 2012, on long-term loan to Museum Rietberg (2012: Museum Rietberg, Dauerleihnehmer*in / 自2012年起長期借展於瑞士瑞特堡博物館)
Introduction to Blue Glaze (藍釉介紹 / Blue Glaze in Tang Ceramics)
In the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD), blue glazes were rare and luxurious, achieved by adding imported cobalt oxide as a colorant. This produced a deep, vibrant blue, often combined with other lead-based glazes like amber (yellowish-brown from iron) and green (from copper). Such pieces belong to the broader "sancai" (三彩, three-color) tradition of low-fired lead-glazed pottery, famous for tomb figurines and vessels. Blue was expensive and used sparingly, mainly on smaller, high-quality items. The Gongxian (Gongyi) kilns in Henan were a major center for sancai and related wares, producing colorful, molded earthenware with bold splashes and drips for dramatic effect. This tortoise exemplifies the playful, naturalistic animal forms popular in Tang art, possibly functioning as a small water dropper or decorative piece.
Historical Background (歷史背景 / Historical Context): Tang sancai wares flourished in the 7th–8th centuries, reflecting cosmopolitan influences from the Silk Road. They were primarily funerary goods, placed in elite tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Blue-glazed examples highlight technological sophistication and trade (cobalt from Persia or Central Asia). The 8th century marked the peak of Tang ceramic innovation before shifts to higher-fired wares in later dynasties.
The Meiyintang Collection (梅茵堂介紹 / Meiyintang Collection)
The Meiyintang Collection (玫茵堂收藏, named after a poetic term meaning "Hall among Rosebeds") is one of the world's finest private assemblages of Chinese ceramics. It was assembled over five decades starting in the late 1950s by two Swiss brothers born in Manila: Gilbert Zuellig (1918–2009) and Stephen Zuellig (1917–2017). Through their pharmaceutical business across Asia, they developed a passion for Chinese art.
Gilbert Zuellig focused on early ceramics: Neolithic to Song dynasty (pre-1279 AD), including ancient pottery, stoneware, and Tang/Song masterpieces.
Stephen Zuellig collected later porcelains: Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, plus archaic bronzes from Shang/Zhou periods.
The collection gained fame through exhibitions and catalogues (e.g., by Regina Krahl) from the 1990s. In 2011–2012, many Yuan/Ming/Qing pieces (Stephen's focus) were sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong auctions, including the famous Chenghua "chicken cup" (fetched high prices, e.g., over HKD 200 million for some imperial porcelains). The pre-Song/early ceramics (Gilbert's portion, over 1,600 pieces) remain with the Meiyintang Foundation and were placed on permanent long-term loan to the Museum Rietberg in Zurich starting in 2012 (around 650+ objects displayed). This includes Neolithic to Song wares, highlighting early Chinese ceramic evolution.
Museum Rietberg (瑞士瑞特堡博物館): Located in Zurich, it specializes in non-European art and has housed the Meiyintang loan since 2012, making these treasures accessible to the public.
FAQ: Blue-Glazed Tortoise and the Collectors (藍釉龜與藏家問答 FAQ)
Q: What is this tortoise object exactly?
A: It is a small (7 cm long) Tang dynasty (8th century) pottery figurine in the shape of a tortoise, made at Gongxian kilns. It features rare blue glaze combined with amber, likely used as a waterpot or decorative item.
Q: Why is blue glaze special in Tang ceramics?
A: Blue was achieved with costly imported cobalt, making it rarer than common green/amber sancai. It shows Tang's advanced glazing and international trade.
Q: Who were the two brothers behind Meiyintang?
A: Gilbert Zuellig (focused on pre-Song/early ceramics up to Song dynasty) and Stephen Zuellig (focused on post-Song: Yuan, Ming, Qing porcelains). They built the collection from the 1950s–2000s.
Q: What happened to the Ming-Qing parts of the collection?
A: Many were auctioned at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2011–2012, achieving high prices (e.g., imperial pieces in millions of HKD). The early (pre-Song) part remains intact under the Meiyintang Foundation.
Q: Where can I see this tortoise now?
A: It is on long-term loan and display at the Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland (inventory MYT 1181).
Q: Is this a sancai piece?
A: Yes, it fits the Tang sancai tradition (multi-color lead glazes), but with prominent rare blue, making it especially collectible.
Q: Why a tortoise shape?
A: Tortoises symbolized longevity in Chinese culture. In Tang art, animal figurines (horses, camels, mythical creatures) were common in tombs or as scholar's desk items.
