TWO PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES

both bottles of bulbous rounded form beneath a wide cylindrical neck, each painted in either famille-rose enamels or underglaze-blue with the 'Four Professions', on one side a man fishing with another man at leisure playing a flute, and on the other a scholar riding a donkey followed by his attendant, a woodcutter in the background, the underglaze-blue bottle with a four-character Daoguang jiyou mark, corresponding to 1849, the famille-rose bottle with a four character Daoguang nianzhi seal mark in iron-red

Vanessa F. Holden.

Enamelled bottle - good condition Underglaze-blue bottle - good condition Both have light scratches to the glaze on the upper surface of the mouth and the roundest points of the body typical of age, but not disfiguring and visible only in raking light.
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.

It is very unusual to find identical renderings of a subject in both underglaze-blue and colored enamels. The shape and style of potting of the bottles are also identical, suggesting that they both came from the same workshop in Jingdezhen at the same time, although they were purchased seperately by Vanessa Holden.

Bottles of this shape and somewhat large size are found usually with Tongzhi marks, which is consistent with the very late Daoguang period date of 1849 found on the underglaze-blue bottle.