明朱砂荷魚澄泥硯(yan)是典(dian)藏于天津博物(wu)館(guan)的一件明代文房用具。
澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥硯(yan),與端硯(yan)、歙(she)硯(yan)、洮硯(yan)并(bing)稱(cheng)為(wei)我國四大名硯(yan),以其質地細(xi)膩(ni)、色澤多(duo)變、發墨如油、不損筆毫而頗受歷代文人雅士的推崇(chong)。用澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥制硯(yan),起(qi)于(yu)(yu)唐代,是以經(jing)過濾(lv)洗的細(xi)泥加(jia)(jia)入添加(jia)(jia)劑(ji)燒制而成,使用起(qi)來(lai)不亞于(yu)(yu)石。明(ming)代是澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥硯(yan)發展的成熟階段,在制作、雕(diao)刻方面均有極大的飛躍。由(you)于(yu)(yu)燒造(zao)技(ji)術的進步以及添加(jia)(jia)劑(ji)品類的創新,著(zhu)色技(ji)術已到(dao)達爐火純青的程度(du),工匠們得以燒制出(chu)五彩繽(bin)紛的澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥硯(yan)。朱砂(sha)澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥即初(chu)見(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)此時(shi),泥赤如朱,鮮艷(yan)奪目。《硯(yan)小史》有云:“澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥之(zhi)最(zui)上者為(wei)鱔魚黃,其次為(wei)綠豆砂(sha),又次為(wei)玫瑰紫……然不若朱砂(sha)澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥之(zhi)尤妙。”可(ke)見(jian)(jian),朱砂(sha)澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥堪稱(cheng)澄(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)泥硯(yan)中(zhong)的稀世之(zhi)珍。
天津博物館(guan)“耀世奇珍”館(guan)藏精(jing)品展中陳列有一方(fang)“明代(dai)荷魚朱(zhu)砂(sha)澄泥硯”,在燒(shao)造(zao)工藝(yi)和(he)雕(diao)琢構(gou)思(si)上皆有獨到之處。此硯長24厘米(mi),寬(kuan)15.4厘米(mi),高2.2厘米(mi),作魚形硯身(shen),呈朱(zhu)紅(hong)色,泥質細(xi)膩,色澤(ze)鮮(xian)艷(yan)。硯背襯以荷葉,荷葉及魚周于燒(shao)制前均著(zhu)黑(hei)色,黑(hei)紅(hong)相映(ying),荷魚交(jiao)輝(hui),濃(nong)艷(yan)與沉著(zhu)相得益彰。可謂造(zao)型生動活潑(po),雕(diao)刻精(jing)細(xi)傳神,線條流暢(chang)自然,色彩鮮(xian)麗(li)華美,技法高超,巧奪天工,是極為(wei)稀(xi)見的古代(dai)文房藝(yi)術精(jing)品。
此方(fang)硯(yan)(yan)臺不(bu)僅閃耀著(zhu)古人燦爛的(de)(de)(de)藝術光輝,而且所(suo)蘊含的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)化信息(xi)也頗值得回味。硯(yan)(yan)作魚(yu)(yu)形,與“余(yu)”諧音(yin),荷魚(yu)(yu)相配,寓意連年(nian)有(you)余(yu),吉祥富(fu)貴。硯(yan)(yan)背上(shang)方(fang)隸書(shu):“給諫(jian)公(gong)賞”;中間另刻楷書(shu)小字銘(ming):“離(li)塵(chen)垢 伴文(wen)(wen)人 腹(fu)中書(shu)滿(man) 同上(shang)龍門(men)。”落款(kuan)“宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)開(kai)(kai)蕤(rui)”;下方(fang)刻有(you)銘(ming)文(wen)(wen)兩(liang)行:“初頤園大司馬贈宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)開(kai)(kai)萊(lai)藏”。“諫(jian)公(gong)”乃(nai)宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)澍(shu)(shu),與初彭齡(ling)(頤園)同為(wei)清(qing)代乾嘉時(shi)期(qi)官員(yuan)、學者(zhe),亦為(wei)同鄉好友(you)。宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)開(kai)(kai)蕤(rui),為(wei)宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)澍(shu)(shu)長子,工詩文(wen)(wen),書(shu)畫、篆(zhuan)刻皆精妙。宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)開(kai)(kai)萊(lai),為(wei)宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)澍(shu)(shu)三(san)子。可見,此硯(yan)(yan)乃(nai)初彭齡(ling)贈予宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)氏(shi)家(jia)族(zu),且頗為(wei)宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)氏(shi)父(fu)子珍賞。尤其是宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)開(kai)(kai)蕤(rui)所(suo)作硯(yan)(yan)銘(ming),寄(ji)托出文(wen)(wen)人滿(man)腹(fu)經(jing)綸(lun),期(qi)待(dai)攜手(shou)出仕(shi)的(de)(de)(de)美好愿景(jing)。荷葉之(zhi)(zhi)襯托,象征出淤(yu)泥而不(bu)染,亦如(ru)君子超凡脫俗、潔(jie)身自(zi)好的(de)(de)(de)高貴品質(zhi),使得硯(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)人氣息(xi)濃郁。今日賞之(zhi)(zhi),當時(shi)文(wen)(wen)人以硯(yan)(yan)會友(you),佳硯(yan)(yan)相贈,結(jie)伴共賞,揮毫潑(po)墨(mo)的(de)(de)(de)情形仿(fang)佛躍然(ran)于方(fang)寸墨(mo)海(hai)之(zhi)(zhi)間。
此(ci)外(wai),硯(yan)臺盒蓋(gai)之上(shang)亦(yi)刻銘文曰:“澄泥(ni)荷魚(yu)研(yan) 初(chu)頤園家(jia)(jia)舊物,河間吳棠湖(hu)購得收(shou)(shou)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)”。可知該硯(yan)后(hou)被清末(mo)書(shu)畫家(jia)(jia)、收(shou)(shou)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)家(jia)(jia)吳潯源(yuan)先(xian)生(sheng)收(shou)(shou)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)。1954年,明代荷魚(yu)朱砂澄泥(ni)硯(yan)由(you)天津著名文物收(shou)(shou)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)家(jia)(jia)徐世章(zhang)先(xian)生(sheng)的親屬捐獻給天津市藝術博(bo)物館。由(you)此(ci)可考,此(ci)硯(yan)經多位(wei)名家(jia)(jia)收(shou)(shou)藏(zang)(zang)(zang)鑒賞,流傳(chuan)有緒,實為難(nan)得。