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Lot Essay
Ye Bengqi was a member of a family of four, best known for their skills at painting inside snuff bottles. According to Robert W. L. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection, p. 23, Hugh Moss learned in an interview with Ye Bengqi in Beijing in 1974 that the brothers used to visit the Beijing Museum and memorize the patterns depicted on the authentic glass bottles and wares on display. They would then attempt to re-create them. The results were technically brilliant. However, a comparison of the glass and enameling style soon reveals differences. Ye family bottles are meticulous to a fault but lack the vigor and freedom associated with the 18th century originals. The enamels are more opaque in the copies and the glass itself lacks the pitting commonly found on the precursors.
For other examples, see Chris Randall, Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, 1991, Catalogue, fig. 1; Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles III, 1990, Catalogue, fig. 10; Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Chinese Snuff Bottles, pls. 945-946.
An almost identical one was sold in our New York Rooms, 18 October 1993, lot 248.
For other examples, see Chris Randall, Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, 1991, Catalogue, fig. 1; Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles III, 1990, Catalogue, fig. 10; Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Chinese Snuff Bottles, pls. 945-946.
An almost identical one was sold in our New York Rooms, 18 October 1993, lot 248.