Page 94 - The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I

(two views)

322 The katydid, either alone or with its cage, became a very popular subject
A FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE on snuff bottles during the early nineteenth century. An emblem of
IMPERIAL, JINGDEZHEN KILNS, DAOGUANG FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK courage, the katydid in Chinese is pronounced guoguo which sounds the
IN IRON RED AND OF THE PERIOD (1821-1850) same as the word ‘country’. The rebus is interpreted as jinzhong baoguo,
meaning ‘to be loyal to one’s country’. Large quantities of imperially made
One side is decorated with a katydid perched on top of an overturned bottles were presented to offcials around the country as a sign of imperial
katydid cage, its cover removed and to the side, and the reverse is recognition. Such a pun would have been a subtle and effective way
decorated with a larger katydid. of reminding offcials of an essential feature of Confucian government.
2¡ in. (6 cm.) high, glass stopper Another reason for the popularity of the katydid imagery is linked to the
production of cricket and katydid cages and the popular pastime of katydid
$5,000-7,000 fghts.

PROVENANCE: Another Daoguang-marked bottle, painted with the katydid on the cage
on one side, and a single katydid on the reverse, is illustrated by Moss,
Robert Kleiner, London, 2009. Graham, Tsang, in A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 597. George Bloch Collection, Vol. 6, Part 3, Hong Kong, 2008, pp. 690-1, no.
1318. Another Daoguang-marked bottle with a single katydid on each side
was sold at Christie’s New York, 13-14 September 2012, lot 1161.

清道光 御製粉彩蟈蟈紋鼻煙壺 礬紅四字篆書款

(mark)

92