1750-1820

Details

A RARE CARVED WHITE AND RUSSET JADE PEBBLE SNUFF BOTTLE
1750-1820
The bottle is carved in relief with inscriptions in seal script on two raised panels, one reading chang shou (longevity) and the other reading Liang shan tong zhong shi er pian (the bronze of Liang mountain weighs twelve catties).
2 3⁄4 in. (7 cm.) high, coral stopper

Provenance

Elmer A. Claar Collection.
Sotheby Parke Bernet, 2 December 1969, lot 141.
Christie's New York, 27 November 1991, lot 127.
Rachelle R. Holden Collection, New York.

Literature

R. Holden, Rivers and Mountains Far From the World - The Rachelle R. Holden Collection, A Personal Commentary, New York, 1994, pp. 274-275, no. 119.

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.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Margaret Gristina (葛曼琪) Senior Specialist, VP

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The natural pebble form of the current bottle is reflective of the topic of it's inscription, in which Liang mountain is discussed. In her book, Rivers and Mountains Far From the World - The Rachelle R. Holden Collection, A Personal Commentary, New York, 1994, p. 275, Rachelle Holden discusses the inscription stating "The catty is a measure of weight of approximately 1.33 pounds. The reference here is to a famous bronze that was thought to have been excavated on Mt. Liang. Well known to the literati, this beomes an "in" reference that the elite cognoscenti woudl immediately recognize as an allusion to the bronze."

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