Page 15 - Vol 111, Japanese Works Of Art In The Collection of the Queen, by John Ayers

1941 1942

1941 Snuff bottle and stopper 1942 Snuff bottle and stopper

RCIN 23603.a–b RCIN 11558.a–b
Turquoise, silver and various gemstones Malachite with azurite, gold, ivory
Bottle: China; late 18th to 19th century. Metalwork: Tibet(?); late 18th to China; mark and reign of Qianlong (1736–95)
19th century H (overall) 8.3 cm; W 4.3 cm
H (overall) 8.0 cm; W 5.8 cm
A hexagonal vase of mottled stone, thick walled, with rounded
A heart-shaped bottle of turquoise, encased round the shoulder, shoulder, brief neck and thick, spreading, hexagonal lip. The
down the sides and round the base and ring foot in silver, perhaps stopper, a dome of cork covered with a sheet of gold, moulded
of Tibetan workmanship. The silver neck moulded in relief with with granulation and a tiny ball finial, attached to an ivory spoon.
petals. On the sides, lion masks with pendent rings, and the The four-character reign-mark incised in the flat base. The seal
remaining area decorated with beaded cabochon settings for reads:
gems of jade, coral and malachite. The silver stopper with similar 乾隆御製
cabochons, with a silver spoon attached.
Qianlong yuzhi
COMMENTARY: a bottle with comparable silver fittings and Made by Imperial Command in the reign of the Qianlong emperor
cabochons, also possibly of Tibetan workmanship, is in the
Victoria and Albert Museum (White 1992, p. 284, no. 2, PROVENANCE: Queen Mary, 26 May 1947. Presented by Peter
pl. 132.2). Sparks on Queen Mary’s 80th birthday.

PROVENANCE: Queen Mary, by 1932. INVENTORY REFERENCE: qmPP.xi.41.

INVENTORY REFERENCES: qmb.ii.463; qmPP.v.167.

NON-CERAMIC W ORKS OF ART FR OM CHINA 837