Page 42 - Bonhams Indian Private Collection of Snuff Bottles March 2016 New York

6051 (two views)
6051
AN INSIDE-PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE
Wang Xisan, 1967, the bottle: 1780-1880
The slender bottle narrowing towards a cylindrical neck beneath a
recessed lip, rounded oval foot, painted in ink and watercolors with a
continuous scene of eight horses in an open landscape landscape with
wutong trees and blooming lily flowers rising behind perforated rocks,
titled to one narrow side Ba Jun Tu (Eight Stallions), dated dingwei nian Yueying, who trails the sun incessantly; Yuhui, who wears a radiant
qiu (autumn of year 1967), signed Xisan, with one seal Xisan.
2 1/4in (5.7cm) high
$3,000 - 5,000
The ‘Eight Stallions’ subject is repeated often in Wang Xisan’s works.
For another bottle with the same subject by Wang Xisan, see The
Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Moss, Graham,
Tsang, Vol. II, p. 733, no, 450, see also two comparable examples
illustrated in the exhibition catalog titled Great Master Boutique
Exhibition Wang Xisan, published in 2011, p. 20, nos. 021 and 022.
40 | BONHAMS
The subject of eight horses refers to the steeds of Mu Wang, the
fifth king of the Zhou dynasty. The legend of the ‘Eight Horses of
Mu Wang’ refers to the horses that drew the carriage of Mu Wang
when he made a grand tour of his kingdom. According to Shi Yi Ji
(Chronicles of Forgotten Times), the eight horses were identified as
follows: “Juedi, who races without raising dust; Fanyu, who overtakes
birds at speed; Benxiao, who covers ten thousand miles overnight;
coat; Chaoguang, who casts ten shadows from his body; Tengwu,
who rides on clouds; and Jianyi, who possesses a pair of wings.
When spurred, they take flight like lightning. When checked by the
reins, they slow to canter. Together they carry the emperor to all
corners of the world.”
壺:1780-1880 內畫:1967年王習三作
水晶內畫八駿圖鼻煙壺 《丁未年秋習三作》款