.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The golden pheasant was a well-known symbol of an official in the civil service. Embroidered rank badges on robes for officials with this subject are well-recorded. The golden pheasant represented civil officers of the second rank, the silver pheasant those of the fifth rank.
For another example of this exceedingly well-painted group see Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles III, Hong Kong, 1990, pp. 20-21, no. 10.
For a lengthy discussion of this group of enamelled wares, produced by the Ye family at Beijing, see Hugh M. Moss, 'The Apricot Grove Studio, Part III: Enamelled Glass Wares,' the I.C.S.B.S., Journal, Autumn, 1985, pp. 116-130, where similar examples are illustrated.
See also Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, Tokyo, 1993, pp. 352-353, no. 205 for a discussion of Ye Bengqi's talents as a copiest.
For an Imperial Qianlong example also painted with a pheasant and possibly the inspiration for Ye Bengqi's interpretation, see Masterpieces of Snuff Bottles in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1995, p. 51, no. 16.
See also another Imperial enamel example illustrated by Christopher Sin in his Beijing Auction Review, I.C.S.B.S., Journal, Autumn, 1997, p. 24, fig. 6 also depicting a very similar golden pheasant standing on rockwork.
For another example of this exceedingly well-painted group see Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles III, Hong Kong, 1990, pp. 20-21, no. 10.
For a lengthy discussion of this group of enamelled wares, produced by the Ye family at Beijing, see Hugh M. Moss, 'The Apricot Grove Studio, Part III: Enamelled Glass Wares,' the I.C.S.B.S., Journal, Autumn, 1985, pp. 116-130, where similar examples are illustrated.
See also Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, Tokyo, 1993, pp. 352-353, no. 205 for a discussion of Ye Bengqi's talents as a copiest.
For an Imperial Qianlong example also painted with a pheasant and possibly the inspiration for Ye Bengqi's interpretation, see Masterpieces of Snuff Bottles in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1995, p. 51, no. 16.
See also another Imperial enamel example illustrated by Christopher Sin in his Beijing Auction Review, I.C.S.B.S., Journal, Autumn, 1997, p. 24, fig. 6 also depicting a very similar golden pheasant standing on rockwork.