Page 32 - Bonhams Chinese Scholar's Art March 2014

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8051 8052
An enamelled glass snuff bottle A chalcedony double fish snuff bottle
Imperial Glassworks, Beijing 1767-1800, the bottle earlier 1820-1880
Of rounded rectangular form, with a flat lip, the foot heavily polished, the colorless glass with Formed as two fish joined at the belly, with
painted famille rose palette enamels of bamboo and prunus blossoms one side, reversed by a flat lips around their mouths, their curved
branch of prunus blossom. tails overlapping, with the individual scales
1 7/8in (4.7cm) high delineated, the interiors very well-hollowed.
$8,000 - 10,000 2 1/4in (5.8cm) high
$1,500 - 2,500
It is likely that this bottle belongs to a group of delicately painted colorless glass bottles produced by
the Guyue Xuan (Ancient Moon Pavilion) in the late 18th century. Although the hallmark is absent, For a very similar example, see Hughes, The
the foot has been heavily polished. However, the palette and style strongly link the bottle to the Blair Bequest, Chinese Snuff Bottles From the
imperial craftsmen at Guyue Xuan. Princeton University Art Museum, Baltimore,
2002 no 46, where the author notes that while
See Moss, Graham and Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles. The Mary and George Bloch double fish bottles are not uncommon, the form
Collection, Hong Kong, 2008, vol.6, pp.182-184 for the identification of this group. in chalcedony is relatively rare.

Another clear glass bottle of similar form and similarly enameled with prunus branches and also
bamboo, and enameled with a Guyue Xuan mark, from the Meriem Collection was sold at Christie’s
New York, 19 March 2008, lot 304. Further related examples bearing Guyue Xuan marks include
Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Masterpieces From the Rietberg Museum Zurich, Zurich, 1993, no.21,
a slender oval example, formerly in the Monimar Collection, illustrated by Lawrence, Miniature
Masterpieces from the Middle Kingdom. The Monimar Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, London,
1996, pp.14-15, no.1; one of bulbous spade shape formerly in the Rachelle R. Holden Collection,
sold at Christie’s New York, 21 March 2000, lot.89; one of similar form in the collection of
Humphrey Hui, illustrated by H.Hui, The Imperial Connection. Court Related Chinese Snuff Bottles,
Hong Kong, 1998, Catalog no.49.

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