Page 59 - The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I

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269 Animal-form and fgural porcelain snuff bottles gained popularity towards
A RARE FAMILLE ROSE MOLDED PORCELAIN FIGURAL SNUFF the very end of the eighteenth century and continued to be produced
BOTTLE through the nineteenth century. Several versions of fgural bottles formed
JINGDEZHEN KILNS, 1830-1880 in the shape of Liu Hai exist. There are two examples in the Princeton Art
Museum, New Jersey, all dating slightly earlier than the present example.
The bottle is molded in the shape of Liu Hai standing with left foot For a discussion of the group and list of other examples see M. Hughes,
resting on top of his three-legged toad, and holding the string of cash The Blair Bequest, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Princeton University Art
draped over his shoulders. He wears loose ruby-pink pants, and the Museum, Baltimore, 2002, pp. 221-222, nos. 302-303. Also see Xia Gengqi
top of his head forms the stopper of the bottle. and Zhang Rong (ed.), Masterpieces of Snuff Bottles in the Palace Museum,
3Ω in. (9 cm.) high, porcelain stopper Beijing, 1995, p. 166, no. 169, for a Daoguang example. All of these
examples are modeled in a columnar fashion. The present bottle is unusual
$8,000-12,000 in the group for the freely modeled arms and legs.

PROVENANCE: Liu Hai is the immortal associated with commercial success. He is nearly
always portrayed with his three-legged toad and cash, and conveys a wish
John Ault Collection. for prosperity. The three-legged toad itself has origins in the magical realm,
Robert Kleiner, London, 2005. representing the unattainable. It was only in later Chinese art that it was
associated with Liu Hai. There are many versions of the story of Liu Hai and
EXHIBITED: his toad companion, but the essential elements remain that as a reward for
his friendship, the toad revealed the secret to eternal life. Holding the toad
Boston, International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society Convention, The also allowed Liu Hai to travel anywhere in the world instantaneously.
Barron Collection, 23-26 September 2008.

1830-1880年 模印粉彩「劉海戲蟾」鼻煙壺

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