Lot 806
806
A RARE PAINTED ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE
A RARE PAINTED ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE
A RARE PAINTED ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE
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A RARE PAINTED ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE
5 More
A RARE PAINTED ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE

IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK IN BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details
A RARE PAINTED ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK IN BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)
Of small, ovoid form and supported on a rectangular foot, the bottle is finely decorated on one side with a pair of magpies perched on leafy branches, the reverse with sprays of peonies, convolvulus, narcissus, chrysanthemum and roses.
1 13⁄16 in. (4.5 cm.) high, painted enamel stopper
Provenance
Raymond Bushell Collection.
Bob C. Stevens Collection, no. 1028.
The Bob C. Stevens Collection of Fine and Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, Part II; Sotheby's New York, 26 March 1982, lot 81.
Rachelle R. Holden Collection, New York.
Literature
B. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, New York, 1976, no. 1028.
Arts of Asia, January-February 1982, p. 95, no. 22.
R. Holden, Rivers and Mountains Far From the World - The Rachelle R. Holden Collection, A Personal Commentary, New York, 1994, pp. 88-89, no. 31.
Exhibited
Hong Kong Museum of Art, Chinese Snuff Bottles, 15 October-26 November 1977, cat. no. 242.

Brought to you by

Margaret Gristina (葛曼琪)
Margaret Gristina (葛曼琪) Senior Specialist, VP
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Lot Essay


The word for 'magpie' in Chinese (xique) is a homophone for 'joy'. The current bottle is decorated with two magpies which can infer double happiness such as that found in marriage. The branches upon which the birds are perched appear to be prunus (mei) which flower in late winter, and whose name is a homophone for “eyebrows.” Together, the magpie and prunus form a rebus meaning “May you have happiness up to your eyebrows.” The flowers on the reverse of the bottle are representative of the four seasons. Combined with the auspicious wishes for marriage across four seasons, the current bottle would have been a fitting gift for a wedding or marriage anniversary.

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