JINGDEZHEN KILNS, 1790-1840

Details

**AN UNUSUAL ENAMELED PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE
JINGDEZHEN KILNS, 1790-1840
The molded body of compressed form with slightly concave lip and recessed, flat oval foot surrounded by a footrim, the outer layer of the double body pierced through, painted in famille rose enamels with a design of circular panels with a floral design including peony and lotus blossoms, the four on the two main sides overlapping beneath formalized lingzhi heads, all set against a swastika-diaper ground, the neck painted with a band of dragonflies and flowers, between gilt line borders around the base and panels, the lip gilt, gilt-bronze stopper pierced and decorated with a shou ('longevity') character on a highly formalized floral ground, integral collar
3 in. (7.82 cm.) high

Provenance

Eugene Sung, New York, 1977

Literature

Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Vol. 1, no. 234

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

See a similar bottle from the Walters Art Gallery but with different details and beneath monochrome green enamel, illustrated in JICSBS, September 1975, p. 7.

This bottle is probably of Jiaqing date and a commercial product of Jingdezhen, as evidenced by the same decorative idea used in different ways - when dealing with a market made up of multiple, private clients, it made sense to vary the decorative scheme widely, even while using a single mold. With an Imperial order, on the other hand, the bureaucratic system encouraged sets and series of similarly decorated bottles, rather than many variations from a similar mold.

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

View All