1770-1830

Details

**A BLUE OVERLAY WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
1770-1830
Of flattened form with flat lip and recessed oval foot surrounded by a footrim, carved through the transparent overlay with a continuous scene of five bats, one holding in its mouth a brush suspended on a double-tasseled cord, flying above a shoreline with a pine-tree and lingzhi growing from pierced rockwork, the waves on one side rising symmetrically in front of the sun just above the horizon, all interspersed with wisps of clouds, tourmaline stopper with vinyl collar
2 in. (5.32 cm.) high

Provenance

Ambassador T.T. Li, Shanghai, 1945

Literature

Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Vol. 2, no. 384

Exhibited

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago, 1968
Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, 2003
Poly Art Museum, Beijing, 2003

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

There is more than a hint of folk-art in the style of overlay carving depicting the bats and pine tree, reflecting a trend in the mid-Qing period, seen at the Palace workshops and elsewhere, away from the highly artistic approach of the earlier Qianlong reign towards a more decorative impulse.

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