Page 66 - Bonhams Asian and Chinese Art London Nov. 2019
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AN INSIDE PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Provenance
Zhou Leyuan, circa 1886-1887 An English Private Collection
Painted to one side with a windswept fisherman in a grass cape, Wheatley Antiques, London
punting an open skiff in a tree-strewn, mountainous river landscape, Hugh Moss Ltd.
the reverse with a jar of prunus blossom beside smaller vessels and
ornamental pierced rockwork, inscribed 仿南田老人筆 三石 Fǎng Zhou Leyuan is known to have painted inside snuff bottles between
nántián lǎorén bǐ sānshí (Following the spirit of Nantian) and signed 1882 and 1893. He is regarded as the founder of the Beijing School
周樂元 Zhōulèyuán, with one seal of the artist, amethyst and gilt of artists in this genre, which flourished between 1882 and the end of
metal mounted stopper, box. the Qing Dynasty in 1912.
The bottle 6cm (2.3/8in) long. (3).
In the current example, the artist cites Yun shouping - hao Nantian
£5,500 - 6,500 (1633-1690) as his inspiration. For two Zhou Leyuan bottles of
similar composition see ‘Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of
HK$54,000 - 64,000 Mary and George Bloch’, by Robert W.L Kleiner, nos. 264 and 265,
CNY49,000 - 58,000 pp.198-199.
For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
64 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.