Page 97 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

82 83
A RED OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS ‘KUILONG’ SNUFF A RUBY-RED ‘CARP’ SNOWFLAKE-GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE, POSSIBLY IMPERIAL,
BOTTLE, QIANLONG MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 18 CENTURY
TH
Bubble-suffused transparent ‘snowflake’ glass with ruby-red Bubble-suffused transparent snowflake-glass with translucent ruby-red overlay
overlay, carved in high relief and with neatly incised detail. carved and incised in high relief.
China, incised vertical two-character Qianlong mark and of the China, 1750-1790
period (1736-1795)
Of elongated teardrop form, finely carved through the ruby-red glass to the
Of flattened ovoid shape, the bubble suffused ground with the bubble-suffused clear ground with a single large carp rising up from curling ocean
ruby-red glass overlay carved as two pairs of kuilong forming waves and spray surrounding the oval foot towards the neck of the bottle. The fish
a stylized shou-character as a symbol of longevity, each pair depicted with its typical, elongated barbels.
holding one flaming pearl in their mouth. The bold conception of this overlay glass bottle is impressive and is a variation
th
While this is clearly an 18 century bottle, it was not possible on the design of the ‘Carp leaping through Dragon Gate’, which alludes to the
to find another ruby-red overlay bottle of this period bearing a attainment of rank and fulfilment of one’s ambitions, as when the carp transforms
similar mark. Therefore, the possibility that the mark is a later into the dragon according to legend.
addition cannot be excluded without any doubt. This, however,
does not alter the fact that this bottle is indeed from the Shape: Bulbous tear drop form
Qianlong period. Hollowing: Standard
Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling elongated neck with flat top and very large mouth,
Shape: Ovoid typical for imperial bottles from this period
Hollowing: Standard Base: Oval, spiral form base, carved from ocean waves
Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck with an overlay ring, flat Design, marks, school: Attributed to the Beijing Palace Workshops, 1750-1790
top and small mouth Stopper: Carnelian on a black platelet with good old spoon
Base: Oval base with raised and flattened overlay foot rim Height of the bottle with stopper: 8,3 cm.
Stopper: Red glass stopper in imitation of coral, on a yellow Width of the mouth: 9 mm.
platelet, good old spoon Width of the neck: 15 mm.
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7,1 cm. Weight: 43,5 grams
Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Condition: Good condition with two tiny polished flaws, a few open bubbles and
Width of the neck: 19 mm. part of one barbel replaced
Weight: 57,5 grams Provenance: American private collection, old labels to top
Condition: Excellent condition with natural old wear and some
very tiny nibbling to inner foot rim Literature comparison: Compare a similar bottle in the Marian Meyer Collection
Provenance: French private 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
Literature comparison: The Blair Bequest. Chinese Snuff Bottles from its mouth on one side, illustrated in Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles II, London,
from Princeton University Art Museum. Michael C. Hughes. Lots 1989, no. 44. See also another bottle of similar shape and decoration but on clear
159-169. (for a comprehensive overview on 18 century ruby-red ground from the Eric Young Collection sold in Sotheby’s Hong Kong rooms, 28th
th
overlay snuff bottles for comparison) October 1993, lot 1031.

Ḧ昮㫦暒暷⛘⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁”⢼漵”滣䂇⢢ Auction result comparison: FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. Sotheby’s,
㯋㲉↮㔋炻暒暷⛘䍣䐫偶⣿䲭㕁炻晽ⶍ䱦䳘 31 MARCH - 01 APRIL 2005, NEW YORK, lot 359. (for a similar bottle)
ᷕ⚳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 18ᶾ䲨暒暷⛘⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁”歱欂”滣䂇⢢炻⎗傥䁢⽉墥
⮵⢼漵炻◜扄漵䎈炻㌺↿↢ᶨᾳ尉⽝攟␥䘬⢥⫿ 德㖶暒暷⛘䍣䐫偶炻㯋㲉⛯⊣㔋ⶫ炻⋲德㖶⮞䞛䲭⣿㕁晽梦
⑩䚠㤝⤥ ᷕ⚳炻1750-1790⸜
㱽⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷 ⑩䚠列⤥炻ᶨ㡅妠櫂䴻ᾖ墄
伶⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷炻䒞⎋䔁㚱㧁姀
EstimateġEUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,- EstimateġEUR 600,-
Starting price EUR 300,-

94 95