THREE INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS BOTTLES

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Details

THREE INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS BOTTLES
EACH SIGNED ZHOU LEYUAN AND WITH CYCLICAL DATES CORRESPONDING TO 1889, 1890 AND 1892

Each of flattened rounded rectangular shape, the first painted with various figures walking through a continuous wooded and rocky river landscape, using primarily pale blue and gray tones, dated geng yin year; the second painted with a grasshopper on mossy rockwork on one side and a fisherman in a straw cape under willow in a windy river landscape on the other, using primarily violet and gray tones, dated ji chou year; the third painted with a continuous scene of mossy rockwork, pots and jardinières containing pine and grasses, dated ren chen year
2 5/8in. (6.7cm) high, and two 2 3/8in. (6.1cm.) high, stoppers (3)

Lot Essay

The bottle dated 1890 uses very similar color combinations to those on another bottle, also dated 1890 and illustrated by Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, vol. II, Hong Kong, 1993, pp. 674-675, no. 413, which depicts a similar landscape on one side. The color palette is unusual

The depiction of a wind or rainswept fisherman in straw cape was a popular one with Zhou. See Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, op. cit., p. 673, no. 412; Christie's New York, December 3, 1992, lot 401; and Robert W. L. Kleiner, exhibition Catalogue, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, Hong Kong, 1987, p. 199, no. 265

Also popular was Zhou's depiction of jardinières of grasses and pine, and pots of plants. For another example see Robert W. L. Kleiner, op. cit., p. 389, no. 318