1740-1860

細節

**A RARE AND UNUSUAL RUSSET AND WHITE JADE PEBBLE SNUFF BOTTLE
1740-1860
Of rounded trapezoidal form, the well-hollowed bottle with flat lip, carved through the russet skin on one shoulder with an eight-character couplet in clerical script followed by the signature Zigang in seal script, amethyst stopper with chased-silver collar
2 in. (6.27 cm.) high

來源

Christie's, New York, 4 June 1992, lot 72
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.

出版

Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Vol. 1, no. 42

展覽

Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, 2003
Poly Art Museum, Beijing, 2003

注意事項

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

拍品專文

The couplet may be translated as:
A refined heart copes with everything,
Suddenly humanity inherits fragrance.

The poem is an expression of the highest state of consciousness to which the Chinese aspired - to go beyond the limitations of the ego-bound self. The fragrance refers to the delights of esoteric comprehension of all matters that accompanies this state of consciousness.

The bottle bears an apocryphal signature of Lu Zigang, the famous late Ming Suzhou jade carver. It is not uncommon to find his signature on jade and other carved stone snuff bottles, but when considered in the context of the low relief inscription typical of Suzhou carvings, an attribution to Suzhou seems likely. For a discussion on Lu Zigang and the attribution of jade bottles bearing his name, see Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, Vol. 1, no. 28.

The shape of the natural pebble has dictated the form of this unusual bottle, which is made to be held in the hand or laid down flat, rather than made to stand on a defined foot.