Page 20 - Carl Barron Snuff Bottle Collection, CHRISTIE's Spet 12 2018

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AN IRON-RED-DECORATED PORCELAIN EXHIBITED
SNUFF BOTTLE Boston, International Chinese Snuf Bottle Society Convention,
IMPERIAL, JINGDEZHEN KILNS, DAOGUANG The Barron Collection, 23-26 September 2008.
FOUR-CHARACTER MARK IN IRON-RED IN A LINE
AND OF THE PERIOD (1821-1850) Much of the popularity of fsh as a decorative theme, especially
in later dynasties, hinges on the fact that the word for fsh (yu) is
The bottle is decorated in iron red with eight gold fsh, a homophone for the word for abundance or surplus (yu) - thus
two with some gilt highlights, and all in various poses.
two fsh represent doubled abundance and a gold fsh (jinyu)
2¡ in. (6 cm.) high, glass stopper symbolizes an abundance of gold, or the idea of gold and jade,
which represents wealth. The pronunciation of the word for carp
$6,000-8,000
also suggests the Confucian li of moral uprightness. In addition,
PROVENANCE the carp represents the scholar, who strives to be successful in
Robert Kleiner, Belfont Company Ltd., Hong Kong, 1998. his civil service examinations and become a jinshi, and will thus
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, gain a good oficial position. Legend tells of the carp swimming
no. 2559. upstream every spring to the Dragon Gate on the Yellow River. If it
succeeds in leaping over the gate, it is transformed into a dragon.
This bottle could have been gifted to someone about to take the
civil service examinations, as a token of good luck.
清道光 礬紅金玉滿堂圖鼻煙壺 礬紅四字楷書款
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