Page 30 - Bonhams Art from the Scholar's Studio, September 16, 2013 NY
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A group of three nephrite and jadeite snuff bottles A porcelain snuff bottle with a figure on a donkey
18th/19th centuries Daoguang mark and of the period
The first, of whitish nephrite with a flat lip and resting on a recessed Of tapering cylindrical form, with a rounded gilt lip, waisted neck, and an
concave oval foot, the front face with a scene of figures and birds in low unglazed circular foot rim, the foot with a six character Daoguang mark
relief, reversed by an inscription in seal script; the second bottle of jadeite, in iron red, the body of the bottle painted in bright famille rose enamels
having a compressed form with a flat, slightly everted lip and flat foot, the featuring the immortal Zhang Guolao riding a donkey, on a repeating
stone with splashes of emerald green; the third bottle also of jadeite with wave motif etched into the enamel.
icy white inclusions and streaks of emerald across the shoulder. 2 7/8in (7.3cm) high
2 1/2in (6.4cm) high, the tallest $1,000 - 1,500
$3,000 - 5,000
The immortal Zhang Guolao is identifiable by his penchant for riding a
donkey backwards and carrying a bamboo musical instrument known as
a yugu “fish drum”. It was said that when he was not riding his donkey,
he would shrink it to the thinness of paper, fold it, and store it in his cap.
To reanimate the beast, he would anoint it with his saliva, and it would
return to form.
28 | Bonhams
