Page 33 - Bonhams Art from the Scholar's Studio, September 16, 2013 NY

8047
An inside painted glass snuff bottle
Ma Shaoxuan, dated 1900
Of upright rectangular form, with a slightly concave lip and a convex
foot surrounded by a shallow foot rim, the interior of one face painted
with a scene of three boys teasing a fourth in an outdoor setting, with
an inscription that reads “Shaoxuan made in the capital”, followed by a
painted seal, reversed by a long calligraphic inscription in small regular
script of a forty character excerpt of Wang Xizhi’s Lanting preface, dated
gengzi (1900) summer, sixth month, and signed Ma Shaoxuan, followed
by a painted seal reading “Shaoxuan”.
2 7/16in (6.2cm) high
$3,000 - 5,000

A similarly painted bottle in the collection of Christopher Sin also dated
1900 identifies the scene as “A succession of noble sons” (Guizi chanlian).
See Ma Zengshan Inside painted snuff bottle artist Ma Shaoxuan (1867-
1939) p. 48, figure 28.

8048
An inside painted glass snuff bottle
Bi Rongjiu
Of upright form, with a flat lip and a rounded oval foot rim around a
convex foot, the interior painted with a landscape to one side, with
a inscription and dedication to Zenan, signed Bi Rongjiu, followed by
a painted seal, the reverse with a painted still life of a spray of plum
blossoms in a guan ware vase, with a scholar’s rock and potted plants.
2 5/8in (6.8cm) high
$1,500 - 2,500

Bi Rongjiu (1874-1925) established the Shandong School after training 8049
in Beijing. After 1897, his personal style on landscape painting became
sophisticated. His early paintings were mostly inspired by Zhou Leyuan
and Ma Shaoxuan.

8049
A famille rose ‘three friends’ snuff bottle
Guangxu mark and of the period, dated 1891
Of ovoid form, with a rounded everted lip around a wide mouth, the
round foot rim unglazed, the body of the bottled with famille rose
enamels featuring a continuous scene of three Pekingese dogs in a garden
setting, the name of each dog in ink, with a title of Sanyou tu followed by
two painted seals, the recessed foot marked in underglaze blue Guangxu
xinmao Suyun daoren zhi sanyoutu.
3 7/8in (9.8cm) high
$7,000 - 10,000

A similarly painted bottle of approximately the same height, with an
identical inscription on the base, is illustrated in Robert W.L. Kleiner Snuff
Bottles from the Collection of John Ault no 199, p. 112. A second similar
bottle is published in An Imperial Qing Tradition Chinese Snuff Bottles
from the Collection of Humphrey K.F. Hui and Christopher C.H. Sin no 16,
where it is stated that the bottles were made on the order of Rong Lu,
chief eunuch to the Dowager Empress, in commemoration of his three
Pekingese dogs who perished in a fire. Another similar bottle was sold at
Bonhams Hong Kong, November 28, 2011, lot 463.

8050
An Yixing ware snuff bottle
19th century
Of upright rounded rectangular form with a flat, unglazed lip and waisted
neck, with a unglazed oval foot rim surrounding a concave foot with
a white enamel, the sides and neck enameled a deep purple, the front
and back with flowers and prunus in archaic vessels enameled on the
unglazed Yixing ground.
2 3/4in (7cm) high
$3,000 - 5,000

8050

Chinese Art From The Scholar’s Studio | 31