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Lot Essay
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 and bearing the same 32-character poem, 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, vol. 4, Part 2, Inside Painted, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 373-375, no. 578, where the authors note that Ma first painted this subject in 1894, and that only four examples dated to 1895 are recorded, p. 374. The authors also provide a complete translation of the poem, op. cit., p. 374.
For two similar bottles painted with the Qiao sisters, one dated 1895 and the other dated 1900, see H. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, pp. 136-137, 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.
Compare a rock crystal bottle painted with this scene and bearing the same 32-character poem, 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, vol. 4, Part 2, Inside Painted, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 373-375, no. 578, where the authors note that Ma first painted this subject in 1894, and that only four examples dated to 1895 are recorded, p. 374. The authors also provide a complete translation of the poem, op. cit., p. 374.
For two similar bottles painted with the Qiao sisters, one dated 1895 and the other dated 1900, see H. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, pp. 136-137, 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.