MASTER OF THE ROCKS SCHOOL, 1740-1850

Details

A CARVED YELLOWISH-GREEN AND RUSSET JADE SNUFF BOTTLE
MASTER OF THE ROCKS SCHOOL, 1740-1850
With flat lip and convex foot surrounded by a footrim, carved through the dark brown skin on one main side with two figures beneath pine boughs, one carrying a bundle of firewood and the other a fishing pole and fish, the reverse carved with plantain leaves emerging from rockwork rendered from the whitish potrtion of the stone, turquoise stopper
2¾ in. (6.9 cm.) high

Provenance

Y.F. Yang & Co., Hong Kong, 4 August 1977.

Special notice

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.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

The Master of the Rocks School seems to have specialized in carvings from this distinctive material. The School's main output was bottles carved with landscape designs, but many other subjects are recorded, including a few with chi-dragon designs which may have been partly produced for the Court.

For other examples of snuff bottles from the Master of the Rocks School, see H. Moss, V. Graham, K.B. Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 1, Jade, Hong Kong, 1995, nos. 136-41.

The subject matter represents two of the Four Noble Professions, in this case, that of woodcutter and fisherman, the other two being farmer and scholar.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections

View All