1770-1860

Details

A PINK-OVERLAY MILK-WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
1770-1860
The bottle is carved through the transparent pink overlay to the opaque white ground with a continuous scene of monkeys, on one side hunting after wasps in the spreading branches of a pine tree growing on one narrow side opposite a peach tree on the other, and on the other main side with a monkey riding a deer being led by another monkey, with a bat above and lingzhi sprouting from the ground.
2 3/8 in. (6 cm.) high, jadeite stopper

Provenance

Robert Hall, London, 2009.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 4985.

Literature

R. Hall, Irish Mist, Chinese Snuff Bottles XIV, London, 2009, p. 6, no. 3.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Lot Essay

The popular subject of a monkey (hou) with a bee or wasp (feng) provides the rebus, fenghou ('To be bestowed the rank of marquis'), although here this second highest of five ranks is used as a generic term for high office in general. This version is unusual in the numerous wasps included in the scene, as one would be sufficient to form the rebus.

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