1770-1830

Details

**AN UNUSUAL GREEN OVERLAY WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
1770-1830
Of flattened form with flat lip and recessed, convex oval foot surrounded by a footrim, the green overlay carved with a continuous design of gourds on a vine with tendrils and leaves, glass stopper with jadeite finial and vinyl collar
2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm.) high

Provenance

Hugh M. Moss Ltd., Hong Kong, 1978

Literature

Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Vol. 2, no. 378

Exhibited

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

With its numerous seeds and swelling form, the gourd was a natural symbol of fertility, an association which is reinforced by its extensive network of vines and tendrils, suggesting continuity and generations of descendants. Green on white was one of the most effective combinations for glass overlay wares, and yet it remains relatively rare. Here the emerald color has been softened to a pastel green by the white beneath it, allowing particularly subtle use of shading for the ribbed fruits, leaves and tendrils. The style is typical of Beijing and the mid-Qing period, but probably dates from the late-Qianlong reign.

More from Important Chinese Snuff Bottles From The J&J Collection, Part V

View All