A RARE DOCUMENTARY SILVER BOTTLE

1840-1890

Details

A RARE DOCUMENTARY SILVER BOTTLE
1840-1890
Of flattened ovoid shape, one side chased with a two-character inscription reading Jie Jiu, the large characters infilled with a milled ground, the other side with a four-character inscription similarly infilled reading Shou cheng du xin and surrounded by a dedicatory inscription, the base with two seals, stopper

2.1/8in. (5.3cm.) high

Provenance

Bob C. Stevens Collection
Sotheby's, New York, 26 March 1982, lot 208

Literature

Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Tokyo, 1976, p. 217, no. 805
Rachelle R. Holden, Rivers and Mountains Far From the World, Hong Kong, 1994, pp. 310-311, no. 137

Lot Essay

The large inscription jie jiu can be read as "abstain from drinking."
The inscription shou cheng du xin can be read as "to be very faithful and trustworthy."
The remaining inscription is a dedication to Man Jinwen from Zhao Ruiqing and Pan Aiting.
The seal marks to the base read Sheng Yuan, the name of the shop and zu wen, meaning "pure silver."
See H. A. Crosby Forbes, Chinese Export Silver, 1785-1885, Vermont, 1975, p. 75, where the author discusses the increased production of marked silver as a result of the opening of new treaty ports and the expansion of trade.

More from Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Holden Collection

View All