Page 11 - September 21 2021 Curtis collections snuff bottles Bonhams NYC

604
TWO INSIDE-PAINTED SNUFF BOTTLES
1894, 1892
The first bottle dated jiawu year (1894), and signed illegibly, painted
with a delicate stippled landscape scene with trees and rocks on one
side and calligraphy to the other; the second bottle signed (Bi) Rongjiu
and dated renyin year (1892) and depicting an elegant lady beneath
willow in a garden on one side and buildings at a shoreline under cliffs
to the other.
2 3/8in (6.2cm); 2 5/8in (6.5cm) high (2).

$1,200 - 1,800

內畫山水人物鼻煙壺兩隻

Provenance:
Galerie Bertrand de Lavergne, Paris, Bi Rongjiu bottle

According to Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury
of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol.
4, Part 2, Inside Painted, pp.553-555, no. 654, the earliest recorded
dated bottle bearing Bi Rongjiu’s name is 1895, although he probably
began to paint in 1893. Therefore, with the discovery of this bottle, we
can now push his working period back a year to 1892, at least. The
subject matter and style is very reminiscent of Zhou Leyuan, whom he
must have been familiar with, even at this early date.

THE EMILY BYRNE CURTIS COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES | 9