Page 17 - September 21 2021 MAnfred Arnold Collection snuff bottles Bonhams NYC

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AN EARLY INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Whilst bearing the signature of Zhou Leyuan, the loosely-handled
Signed Zhou Leyuan, possibly by Gui Xianggu brushwork indicates a different artist taking liberties with the addition of
Dated renchen year, corresponding to 1892 the greater artists signature. Dated to 1892, it is difficult to ascertain,
Of rectangular shape with raised panels and painted with a seated if this is the actual date of the bottle or the date on another bottle
maiden reading on one main face, the reverse side painted with this artists was copying from. Either way, the hand at work may be
pierced rockwork and flowers; stopper. that of Gui Xianggu, an artist that borrowed from Zhou Leyuan in his
2 3/8in (5.9cm) high early works. It might also more tentatively ascribed to Yan Yutian. The
earliest dated bottle bearing Gui Xianggu’’s signature is 1893 and for
$1,800 - 2,200 Yan Yutian, 1894. For further discussion of these dated and sometimes
spuriously signed bottles, see Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo
壬辰年（1892) 玻璃内畫仕女圖鼻煙壺 《周樂元》款 擬桂香谷 Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George
Bloch Collection, Vol 4, Part 1, pp. 352-356, no’s 571 and 572 (both
Provenance: with similar seated lady scenes by Gui Xianggu) and pp.458-459, no.
Dr. and Mrs. Louis E. Wolferz 612 and pp.466-467, no. 616 (seated lady scene by Yan Yutian).
Sotheby’s, New York, The Dr. and Mrs. Louis E. Wolferz Collection, 15
March 1984, lot 326 See another example by Gui Xianggu dated 1897 depicting the Qiao
Sisters in a clearly more capable hand given the five year disparity, see
Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 12.

THE MANFRED ARNOLD COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES | 15