AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS 'ROOSTER' SNUFF BOTTLE ZHOU LEYUAN, 1892

Hugh M. Moss Ltd., 1985.

Robert Kleiner, Boda Yang, and Clarence F. Shangraw, Chinese Snuff Bottles: A Miniature Art from the Collection of George and Mary Bloch, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1994, cat. no. 322.
National Museum of Singapore, Singapore, 1994-1995.
Christie’s London, 1999.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 4, Hong Kong, 2000, no. 501.

Bottle: Good condition. Painting: Some minor snuff staining on the front, top left corner, otherwise in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In Sale 2, lot 49 and Sale 4, lot 77, there was clear evidence that Zhou Leyuan sometimes painted presentation bottles, whether or not he was paid for doing so. Here is equally clear evidence that he also inscribed bottles to be presented by his patrons to third parties. Here he gives both the name of the recipient and the name of the donor.

The landscape is one of Zhou’s rare snow scenes (for another, see Sale 1, lot 91). There is no colour used in the landscape other than the palest of blue washes to adumbrate foliage on the trees, giving the impression that the bottle is more faded than it actually is. Even the rock on which the cockerel struts was painted originally only in shades of black ink, with the colour reserved for the foliage, so it was never intended to be as strongly coloured as Sale 3, lot 22.