AN INSIDE-PAINTED 'DOUBLE-GOURD' CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE YIRU JUSHI, AUTUMN, 1809

with a flat lip and a concave foot, carved with three bats and formalized clouds, painted on the lower bulb of one main side with a scholar inscribing a rock while his attendant stands behind him holding his inkstone, inscribed in regular script ‘Following the brush-style of Academician Awaiting Orders Wen,’ followed by the signature Yunfeng in cursive script, and one seal of the artist, Yunfeng, in black ink and positive seal script, the upper bulb of the same side with an encomium in clerical script on the snuff bottle followed by the signature Zhitian in regular script and, extending onto the narrow side also in regular script, ‘Recorded on a spring day in the year jisi’, corresponding to 1908, with the signature Yiru, the other main side with the upper bat acting as a frame for the inscription in regular script Shuangfu lailin (‘The arrival of double happiness’), the lower bulb painted with an orchid growing from a rocky outcrop inscribed ‘Fragrancy for a king,’ followed by the signature Banshan, and, above, an encomium on snuff, all in regular script; the carnelian stopper with a silver collar; the bottle mid-18th / early 19th century

The Hon. Irene Austin, Fernhill Park Collection (between 1944 and 1977).
The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York, 1991.

Chinese snuff bottles from the Fernhill Park collection, The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York, 1991, cat. no. 149.
Exhibition Rooms, International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society Convention, Boston, October 1991.
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. 443.

There is a bruise on the narrow side of the lower bulb of the bottle. There is some slight wear, fading and snuff staining to the painting, but overall the condition is quite good. The actual colour of the crystal is of a deeper yellowish brown tone compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

The poem, describing the crystal bottle, may be translated as follows:

Compare it to jade: happily, it has no flaws.
Liken it to ice: it has even more charms.
Within it, the universe is different:
Beyond the world, a flavour to be longed for.

The same poem appears on another inside-painted bottle by Yiru jushi also from the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28th May 2010, lot 68.

On the lower bulb of the other side is a rhyming couplet on snuff:

The flavour within is liked by everyone;
Recklessly they bring gold and furs to trade for it.
 
The inscription 'Following the brush-style of Academician Awaiting Orders Wen' refers to the artist Wen Zhengming (1470-1559). The subject of Wen Zhengming and a scholar inscribing a rock is also seen on another inside-painted bottle by the same artist in the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27th May 2012, lot 4.