AN UNSUAL CARNELIAN GOLDFISH-FORM SNUFF BOTTLE

1770-1900

Details

AN UNSUAL CARNELIAN GOLDFISH-FORM SNUFF BOTTLE
1770-1900
Well carved utilizing the rich coral-red and white markings of the stone as a leaping fan-tailed goldfish, its tail curled to one side and nestled into the leaf of a blossoming lotus plant, the lotus leaf with outturned edges and flattened underside forming the foot of the bottle, stopper
1 15/16 in. (5.11 cm.) high

Provenance

Carl Kempe
Sotheby's New York, 22 November 1988, lot 107

Literature

Moss et. al., The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J&J Collection, vol. 1, no. 162
The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, Poly Art Museum, Beijing, p. 44

Exhibited

Christie's New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, 2003
Poly Art Museum, Beijing, 2003

Lot Essay

This bottle perhaps represents a breed of fan-tailed goldfish in China with random coral and white markings all over its body, hiding amongst lotus. The theme of a carp or goldfish with a lotus leaf expresses a wish for continuing prosperity.

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