IMPERIAL, JINGDEZHEN KILNS, DAOGUANG FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN IRON RED AND OF THE PERIOD (1821-1850)

The present example is related to a group of finely painted bottles from the Daoguang period made in sets for the Court to distribute as gifts. The group is frequently decorated with pairs of doves on both sides, although it was not uncommon for some bottles to be painted with doves on one side, and Pekinese dogs on the other. It would appear that the Daoguang Emperor and his consort were fond of doves and small dogs, respectively, so the two subjects were popular on Imperial snuff bottles of the period.
A bottle decorated with both doves and small dogs in The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection: Part I, was sold at Christie's New York, 16 September 2015, lot 233; and another in The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part II, at Christie's New York, 16 March 2016, lot 576; another enameled porcelain snuff bottle, featuring only Pekinese dogs, is illustrated by H. Moss in Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, no. 306.