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Lot Essay
This well-known scene of the two Qiao sisters, famous for their legendary beauty, is taken from the classic, Sanguo yanyi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms). For a discussion of this subject, see G. G. Laverlochere, 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Source of Snuff Bottle Subjects,' Journal, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Spring, 1988, pp. 12-13.
Compare a rock crystal bottle painted with this scene, but dated 1896, in the collection of Mary and George Bloch illustrated by H. Moss, V. Graham and K.B. Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 4, Part 2, Inside Painted, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 373-5, no. 578, where the authors note that Ma first painted this subject in 1894. For two further examples of bottles painted with this scene, one dated 1895 and the other dated 1900, see H. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, pp. 136-7, nos. 338 and 347 respectively. The latter bottle, dated 1900, was part of the Reif Collection, and sold in these rooms, 18 October 1993, lot 202.
Compare a rock crystal bottle painted with this scene, but dated 1896, in the collection of Mary and George Bloch illustrated by H. Moss, V. Graham and K.B. Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 4, Part 2, Inside Painted, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 373-5, no. 578, where the authors note that Ma first painted this subject in 1894. For two further examples of bottles painted with this scene, one dated 1895 and the other dated 1900, see H. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, pp. 136-7, nos. 338 and 347 respectively. The latter bottle, dated 1900, was part of the Reif Collection, and sold in these rooms, 18 October 1993, lot 202.