Page 96 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

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A RED OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS ‘KUILONG’ SNUFF
BOTTLE, QIANLONG MARK AND OF THE PERIOD
Bubble-suffused transparent ‘snowflake’ glass with ruby-red
overlay, carved in high relief and with neatly incised detail.
China, incised vertical two-character Qianlong mark and of the
period (1736-1795)
Of flattened ovoid shape, the bubble suffused ground with the
ruby-red glass overlay carved as two pairs of kuilong forming
a stylized shou-character as a symbol of longevity, each pair
holding one flaming pearl in their mouth.
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While this is clearly an 18 century bottle, it was not possible
to find another ruby-red overlay bottle of this period bearing a
similar mark. Therefore, the possibility that the mark is a later
addition cannot be excluded without any doubt. This, however,
does not alter the fact that this bottle is indeed from the
Qianlong period.
Shape: Ovoid
Hollowing: Standard
Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck with an overlay ring, flat
top and small mouth
Base: Oval base with raised and flattened overlay foot rim
Stopper: Red glass stopper in imitation of coral, on a yellow
platelet, good old spoon
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7,1 cm.
Width of the mouth: 5 mm.
Width of the neck: 19 mm.
Weight: 57,5 grams
Condition: Excellent condition with natural old wear and some
very tiny nibbling to inner foot rim
Provenance: French private collection
Literature comparison: The Blair Bequest. Chinese Snuff Bottles
from Princeton University Art Museum. Michael C. Hughes. Lots
159-169. (for a comprehensive overview on 18 century ruby-red
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overlay snuff bottles for comparison)
Ḧ昮㫦暒暷⛘⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁”⢼漵”滣䂇⢢
㯋㲉↮㔋炻暒暷⛘䍣䐫偶⣿䲭㕁炻晽ⶍ䱦䳘
ᷕ⚳炻⸽悐⇣㚱Ḧ昮⫿㧋炻IJĸĴķĮIJĸĺĶ⸜
⌝⼊䘬⸛朊ᶲ炻㯋㲉⛯⊣䘬㔋ⶫ炻⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁㶭㘘䘬⇣∫↢ℑ
⮵⢼漵炻◜扄漵䎈炻㌺↿↢ᶨᾳ尉⽝攟␥䘬⢥⫿
⑩䚠㤝⤥
㱽⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷
EstimateġEUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,-
94
A RUBY-RED ‘CARP’ SNOWFLAKE-GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE, POSSIBLY IMPERIAL,
18 CENTURY
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Bubble-suffused transparent snowflake-glass with translucent ruby-red overlay
carved and incised in high relief.
China, 1750-1790
Of elongated teardrop form, finely carved through the ruby-red glass to the
bubble-suffused clear ground with a single large carp rising up from curling ocean
waves and spray surrounding the oval foot towards the neck of the bottle. The fish
depicted with its typical, elongated barbels.
The bold conception of this overlay glass bottle is impressive and is a variation
on the design of the ‘Carp leaping through Dragon Gate’, which alludes to the
attainment of rank and fulfilment of one’s ambitions, as when the carp transforms
into the dragon according to legend.
Shape: Bulbous tear drop form
Hollowing: Standard
Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling elongated neck with flat top and very large mouth,
typical for imperial bottles from this period
Base: Oval, spiral form base, carved from ocean waves
Design, marks, school: Attributed to the Beijing Palace Workshops, 1750-1790
Stopper: Carnelian on a black platelet with good old spoon
Height of the bottle with stopper: 8,3 cm.
Width of the mouth: 9 mm.
Width of the neck: 15 mm.
Weight: 43,5 grams
Condition: Good condition with two tiny polished flaws, a few open bubbles and
part of one barbel replaced
Provenance: American private collection, old labels to top
Literature comparison: Compare a similar bottle in the Marian Meyer Collection
with the same type of elongated glass snuff bottle with a red overlay fish wrapped
around the foot, with the only difference being that this one spouts a pavilion
from its mouth on one side, illustrated in Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles II, London,
1989, no. 44. See also another bottle of similar shape and decoration but on clear
ground from the Eric Young Collection sold in Sotheby’s Hong Kong rooms, 28th
October 1993, lot 1031.
Auction result comparison: FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. Sotheby’s,
31 MARCH - 01 APRIL 2005, NEW YORK, lot 359. (for a similar bottle)
18ᶾ䲨暒暷⛘⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁”歱欂”滣䂇⢢炻⎗傥䁢⽉墥
德㖶暒暷⛘䍣䐫偶炻㯋㲉⛯⊣㔋ⶫ炻⋲德㖶⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁晽梦
ᷕ⚳炻1750-1790⸜
⑩䚠列⤥炻ᶨ㡅妠櫂䴻ᾖ墄
伶⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷炻䒞⎋䔁㚱㧁姀
EstimateġEUR 600,-
Starting price EUR 300,-
95