Page 220 - Bonhams Catalog Cohen and Cohen Jan 24, 2023 New York

105
A GRISALLE AND SEPIA EUROPEAN-SUBJECT PORCELAIN
SNUFFBOX AND COVER
Qianlong period, circa 1750
Of compressed bombe form, the flat circular cover painted with cupid
releasing a caged bird before a lady clutching a kerchief and seated on
rockwork beneath a tree with a European style steep-roofed building
in the distance, the cover interior with two cloaked figures in a coastal
setting, the exterior of the rounded globular box with two panels each
depicting a gentleman approaching a lady holding a wine cup and
divided by simple landscape vignettes on a scrolling gilt ground, the
interior with traces of gilding, a grisaille flowerhead painted to the plain
rounded base, gilt-metal hinged mounts.
2 7/8in (7.2cm) across
$2,500 - 3,500
乾隆時期 約1750年 墨彩描紅歐洲人物扁圓形鼻烟蓋盒

Chinese porcelain snuffboxes are uncommon and this shape is very
unusual. The scenes painted on this derive from European engravings
though the precise design source is not known. The symbolism of the
scene would have been clearly understood by an 18th century viewer:
a caged bird represented a woman’s virtue - seen here being released
by a winged Cupid!

218 | BONHAMS