IMPERIAL, JINGDEZHEN KILNS, DAOGUANG FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN IRON-RED AND OF THE PERIOD (1821-1850)

Details

**AN ENAMELED PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, JINGDEZHEN KILNS, DAOGUANG FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN IRON-RED AND OF THE PERIOD (1821-1850)
Of compressed form with slightly concave lip and recessed, flat oval foot surrounded by a footrim, finely painted with a continuous scene of a Pekinese dog beside pierced rockwork and asters within a garden landscape on each main side, the narrow sides molded with dog-head mask-and-ring handles, the foot inscribed with a four-character mark in seal script Daoguang nian zhi ('Made in the Daoguang period'), agate stopper with silver collar
2½ in. (6.35 cm.) high

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The present example is related to a group of finely painted bottles from the Daoguang period made in sets for the Court to distribute as gifts. The group is frequently decorated with pairs of doves on both sides, although it was not uncommon for some bottles to be painted with doves on one side, and Pekinese dogs on the other.

It would appear that the Daoguang Emperor and his consort were fond of doves and small dogs, respectively, so the two subjects were popular on Imperial snuff bottles of the period. According to Geoffrey R. Sayer (Tao Ya or Pottery Refinements, London, 1959, p. 123, no. 722), "Cheng Miao [the Daoguang Emperor] was fond of pigeons; his exalted concubine was fond of little dogs. That is why many dishes of the period have pictures of these two creatures."

Another enameled porcelain snuff bottle featuring only pekinese dogs is illustrated by H. Moss in Snuff Bottles of China, no. 306.

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