Lot 644
644
A RARE CARVED WHITE AND ORANGE JADEITE CAMEO SNUFF BOTTLE
A RARE CARVED WHITE AND ORANGE JADEITE CAMEO SNUFF BOTTLE
A RARE CARVED WHITE AND ORANGE JADEITE CAMEO SNUFF BOTTLE
2 More
This lot is offered without reserve.
A RARE CARVED WHITE AND ORANGE JADEITE CAMEO SNUFF BOTTLE

1800-1900

Details
A RARE CARVED WHITE AND ORANGE JADEITE CAMEO SNUFF BOTTLE
1800-1900
The bottle is carved on one side in high relief utilizing the orange outer layer of the stone with a dark brown monkey climbing a tree as it holds the reins of a horse below. The icy white reverse is incised with yi pian bing xin zai (noble-mindedness prevails) and two seals reading ji and xiang (auspiciousness).
2 ¼ in. (5.7 cm.) high, quartz stopper
Provenance
The Gerry Mack Collection, Sotheby's New York, 25 October 1997, lot 145.
Robert Kleiner, Belfont Company Ltd., Hong Kong, 2000.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 3029.
Special notice
This lot is offered without reserve.

Brought to you by

Andrew Lick
Andrew Lick
+1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The combination of a monkey and horse forms the rebus mashang fenghou ('May you immediately be conferred the rank of Marquis'). This imagery would have made the bottle appropriate to gift to someone completing the civil examinations or who was waiting for an increase of rank.

The current bottle is rare as it is carved in white and orange jadeite. Bottles carved with the combination of horses and monkeys are most often found on agate bottles using the darker patches in the agate to render the scene. The dramatically contrasting colors of the current bottle stand in contrast to the agate examples.

More from The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part VI

View All
View All