Page 28 - Bonhams Chinese Works of Art June 2015 Hong Kong

13 Snuff was an expensive luxury commodity in Europe in the 18th
A RARE IMPERIAL-TRIBUTE PAINTED ENAMEL ‘EUROPEAN century and was introduced to the Qing Court by means of European
SUBJECT’ OVAL SNUFF BOX AND COVER missionaries, envoys and merchants. Snuff-taking became immensely
Red-enamelled Qianlong four-character mark and of the period popular, even with the emperor himself, and the imperial household
Exquisitely enamelled with vibrant and bright colours, the hinged began manufacturing snuff boxes and bottles with a combination of
cover with a raised oval cartouche decorated with a scene of lovers, innovative western elements and ingenious Chinese craftsmanship.
featuring a European lady with a figure of Cupid standing on her right
in front of leafy bushes, holding a basket of flowers in one hand and The present lot in its form and decoration acknowledges inspirations
a pair of doves in the other, her head turned towards the gentleman from several cultures including the Chinese interpretation of the Indian-
beside her as he serenades her with his mandolin, all encircled by style lotus borders that emulates Rococo-type designs, together with a
a band of stylised lotus and Rococo-style leaf scrolls against a blue distinct European subject matter, representing an exotic foreign culture.
ground on the sloping sides of the cover and box, the interior of the The snuff box is therefore a representative artwork that bears witness
box and cover decorated in sepia with landscape scenes depicting to the integration of Asian and Western cultures in the imperial court.
European buildings on a rich yellow ground, the base with a four- The imperial court’s fascination with European culture and hence its
character kaishu mark. depiction as decorative subject matter on various mediums is evident
7.6cm (3in) long in many existing porcelain and works of art in the imperial collections
in Beijing and Taipei, ranging from clocks to snuff bottles, vases and
HK$250,000 - 350,000 other vessels of porcelain and glass.
US$32,000 - 45,000

清乾隆 宮廷進貢銅胎畫琺瑯西洋人物圖鼻煙盒
紅彩「乾隆年製」楷書款

Provenance 來源:
According to the family, acquired by Hans Goldstein probably between
1948-1981 and thence by descent

據說此拍品由Hans Goldstein或於1948-1981年間購得，並由家族繼承

Published and Exhibited 出版:
M.Gillingham, Chinese Painted Enamels, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford,
1975, Catalogue no.33A

26 | BONHAMS