Page 39 - The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I

(two views)

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A WELL-CARVED SPINACH-GREEN JADE MELON-FORM SNUFF
BOTTLE
PROBABLY IMPERIAL, POSSIBLY PALACE WORKSHOPS, 1740-1800

The lobed, oval melon is fnely carved around the sides with a leafy
vine which begins beside the small opening in the top, and with two
butterfies. The fnely polished stone is of deep green color.
2Ω in. (6.4 cm.) high, mother-of-pearl stopper

$6,000-8,000

PROVENANCE:

Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong, 2003.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 3903.

EXHIBITED:

Boston, International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society Convention, The
Barron Collection, 23-26 September, 2008.

Fruit and vegetable-form snuff bottles were a staple at Court, produced
particularly in jade, during the Qing dynasty. The present example is
beautifully carved, with the vines and leaves gently enveloping the fruit,
and perfectly conceived to ft comfortably in the hand.

The gourd symbolizes fertility, because of the many fruit that grow from a
single vine, while the butterfy, seen on one of the narrow sides, is a symbol
of longevity, based upon a pun on its pronunciation, which sounds the
same as the character for the ages of seventy or eighty.

1740-1800年 碧玉雕「瓜瓞綿綿」鼻煙壺 (another view)

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