Page 109 - Sotheby's Asia Week March 2024 Chinee Art

SNUFF BOTTLES FROM
THE CHRISTOPHER SIN COLLECTION

LOTS 226–243

冼祖謙珍藏鼻煙壺

編號226-243
An active member of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle jade, porcelain, glassware, and enamelware. Highlights
Society, the late Hong Kong collector Christopher Sin of his collection have been exhibited at venues including
(1942-2010) was known for his interest in and dedication to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (1994/95), the
the collecting of snuff bottles. Beginning in 1989, he began Phoenix Art Museum (1995), and the Tsui Museum of Art
assembling an exceptional collection of the small bottles (Hong Kong, 1996). His bottles have also been featured in
whose purpose was to serve as portable containers for snuff. many publications, including An Imperial Qing Tradition:
A powdered tobacco flavored with spices, the use of snuff was An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles from the collections
introduced and encouraged during the seventeenth century in of Humphrey K. F. Hui and Christopher C. H. Sin, Asian Art
China as an aid for medicinal purposes; it was believed to cure Museum of San Francisco, 1994, A Congregation of Snuff
many maladies, from the common cold to headaches. Mr. Sin Bottle Connoisseurs: An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles at
was fascinated by the range in form, design, and material used the Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996, and A Congregation
in the making of these bottles, which began to gain popularity of Snuff Bottle Connoisseurs: An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff
in the Qing dynasty, and whose style could be described Bottles at the Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1996.
as ranging from simple containers to exquisitely fashioned
vessels. A scholar as well as a private collector, Mr. Sin wrote In September of 2023, Christopher’s widow Josephine
reviews and articles for his professional organization, and donated snuff bottles from the collection to the Hong Kong
was well known for organizing exhibitions all over the world to Museum of Art, thereby enhancing its status as a leading
make his collection accessible to a wider audience. resource for their study. The current selection, of exceptional
quality across a broad range of media, is being released
His private collection, known as the Fuyun Xuan Collection, into the market to ensure that other collectors with the
reflects the entirety of the Chinese snuff bottle artistry in same passion as Christopher can continue to handle and
its wide range of craftsmanship and materials, including appreciate a small group of the bottles he so loved.

已故香港收藏家冼祖謙 (1942-2010) 乃國際中國鼻煙 其收藏名曰「浮雲軒」，質量俱豐，品類賅博，包括
壺學會活躍會員，先生對鼻煙壺收藏充滿熱忱並且貢 玉、瓷、琉璃及琺琅等，涵蓋鼻烟壺所有品類，其中
獻良多，自1989年開始漸組其鼻烟壺收藏。鼻煙於17 珍品曾展於舊金山亞洲藝術博物館（1994至1995年）
世紀傳入中國，將煙葉磨成細粉並加入香料製成，可 、美國鳳凰美術館（1995年）以及徐氏藝術館
作醫療用，據説可治療傷風、頭痛等多種疾病。鼻烟 （香港，1996年）等。並有數多刊物登載，包括
壺於清代開始流行，風格多變，有簡單設計之例，亦 《清朝傳統：邵維錫藏中國玉雕》，舊金山亞洲藝術
有精巧華美之品。冼先生對鼻烟壺之器型、紋飾與材 博物館，1994年,《壺趣集慶：中國鼻煙壺展》，徐
質極爲著迷，既為學者亦屬藏家，為學會學術期刊供 氏藝術館，香港， 1996年。
稿不斷的同時也於世界各地參與策劃展覽，展出珍藏 2023 年 9 月，冼先生遺孀石韞玉女士將珍藏鼻煙壺
供廣大同好欣賞。
捐贈予香港藝術館，更可印證其研究價值與收藏地
位。本次拍品琳琅豐富、種類繁多，均屬冼先生鍾愛
Christopher Sin (1942-2010)
冼祖謙 (1942-2010) 之物，期盼新主人繼續惜寶賞珍，讓古物傳承後世。

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