AN ENAMEL ON WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE

famille-verte enamels on a milky white glass, of flattened ovoid form with an everted mouth, supported on a neatly carved oval foot, painted with a continuous mountainous landscape featuring two figures crossing a footbridge, leaving a courtyard compound and approaching a small hut standing on stilts on the edge of the water, set below dramatic cliffs emerging from the river, the base with a four-character Qianlong nianzhi mark in blue enamel

Sotheby's London, 29th March 1983, lot 55.

Patrick K. M. Kwok, 'The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles', Arts of Asia, November-December 1993, p. 93, no. 9.

This is in very good condition overall.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Wang Xisan was taught the art of enamelling by Ye Bengqi, along with the art of painting inside bottles. He used the same technique of enamelling as Ye, first sketching the outline in black enamel and then applying layers of thinly colored enamels to build up levels of strong, vivid color. Wang did not produce a large number of enamel snuff bottles as he began to focus on the One Bottle Studio and became a teacher himself. His working period for enamels spanned a short period of time from 1962-1965.

The majority of enamelled bottles by Wang Xisan follow the style of his teacher. It is exceptionally rare to find an example painted with a landscape. A bottle of similar shape and design is illustrated in Hugh Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles, London, 1976, p. 122-123, no. 281. Another Wang Xisan bottle of similar style is in The Crane Collection, www.cranecollection.com, no. 372.