PROBABLY IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1750-1830

Details

A RED-OVERLAY WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
PROBABLY IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1750-1830
The transparent red-overlay is carved through to the translucent, slightly milky and bubble-suffused ground on either side with a design of five bats (wufu) encircling a shou medallion. Each narrow side is decorated with a flower and C-scrolls.
2 ½ in. (6.3 cm.) high, jadeite stopper

Provenance

Asian Art Studio, Los Angeles, California, 1999.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 2891.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Brought to you by

Andrew Lick

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The auspicious symbolism of bats and shou (longevity) characters is typical of a range of Court designs, and snuff bottles and other works of art decorated with such motifs would frequently be distributed by the Emperor as gifts. The bat (fu) and shou medallion, together with the form of the bottle (ping) provides the rebus fushou ping'an ("May you be blessed with good fortune, long life and peace").

The inclusion of five bats on each main side of the bottle is also significant - five bats represent the Five Blessings (a long life, riches, health, love of virtue, and a natural death). They also form the rebus wufu qingshou ("five bats extend good wishes on one's birthday").

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