Lot Essay
For a lengthy discussion regarding this bottle's subject matter see the article entitled "Comparisons by Emily Byrne Curtis", The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society Journal, Autumn 1989, pp. 22-25, fig. 8
For two similar European-subject bottles see Robert W. L. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, col. pl. 2 & 5, where Kleiner states that "the three eighteenth century Emperors were all fascinated by European culture and went to great lengths to have the numerous Jesuit missionaries, who were attached to the court, teach local craftsmen the techniques of enameling. European subjects were favoured, particularly a series of prettily dressed young girls, which are depicted on numerous vases and boxes in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan". The quality of the painting in this example is extremely fine and must suggest that this bottle is a production of the Palace workshops. The Beijing Palace Workshops were set up by the Kangxi Emperor some time after 1680 and flourished in the eighteenth century
For other examples of similar type see 100 Selected Chinese Snuff Bottles from The J & J Collection, An Exhibition at Christie's London, October 11-16, 1987, Catalogue, col. pls. 10,11,12,13 and 15; Lilla S. Perry, Chinese Snuff Bottles, pl. 154-158 and Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Chinese Snuff Bottles, col. pl. 1026 in the section entitled 'Favourites Among the Favoured'
For two similar European-subject bottles see Robert W. L. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, col. pl. 2 & 5, where Kleiner states that "the three eighteenth century Emperors were all fascinated by European culture and went to great lengths to have the numerous Jesuit missionaries, who were attached to the court, teach local craftsmen the techniques of enameling. European subjects were favoured, particularly a series of prettily dressed young girls, which are depicted on numerous vases and boxes in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan". The quality of the painting in this example is extremely fine and must suggest that this bottle is a production of the Palace workshops. The Beijing Palace Workshops were set up by the Kangxi Emperor some time after 1680 and flourished in the eighteenth century
For other examples of similar type see 100 Selected Chinese Snuff Bottles from The J & J Collection, An Exhibition at Christie's London, October 11-16, 1987, Catalogue, col. pls. 10,11,12,13 and 15; Lilla S. Perry, Chinese Snuff Bottles, pl. 154-158 and Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Chinese Snuff Bottles, col. pl. 1026 in the section entitled 'Favourites Among the Favoured'