AN ENAMELLED PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE

famille-rose and iron-red enamels with gilding, of moonflask form rising to a tapered neck, the faces of convex shape, one painted with a lush array of blooming nandina berries, peony, narcissus and lingzhi, the reverse painted with the Immortals Shoulao and Lan Caihe conversing under a pine tree, the sides and neck decorated with scrolling lotus and bats on a turquoise enamel ground, the concave base with a six-character iron-red Daoguang nianzhi seal mark within a gilt rectangle

A Private European Collection.
Sotheby's New York, 27th June 1986, lot 82 and front cover.

Patrick K. M. Kwok, 'The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles', Arts of Asia, November-December 1993, p. 94, no. 32.

The gilding on mouth a little rubbed, but the bottle is in otherwise 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.
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.

Six-character Daoguang seal marks on an authentic bottle are rare, though one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Treasures of the Palace Museum: Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong, 2003, p. 230, no. 352. The present bottle is exceptional for the fine enamelling and beautiful shape, the latter of which is also rarely seen on Daoguang bottles.

The Daoist Immortal Lan Caihe is the patron saint of florists and gardeners, hence she is depicted on the present bottle carrying a basket of flowers. She represents innocence and happiness. Shoulao is the god of longevity and is often depicted as an old sage carrying a peach.