SIGNED MA SHAOXUAN, DATED MID-AUTUMN IN THE GUIMAO YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1903

細節

AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
SIGNED MA SHAOXUAN, DATED MID-AUTUMN IN THE GUIMAO YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1903
Of rounded rectangular shape, finely painted on the interior on one main side with a scene of the two Qiao sisters, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, seated on a rustic cane bench and reading a book together, the reverse inscribed with a twenty-eight-character poem referring to the scene, followed by the signature of the artist and one seal reading Shaoxuan, amethyst stopper
2 3/8 in. (6.1 cm.) high

來源

Private Texas collection, 1991.

注意事項

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.

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拍品專文

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.