AN ENAMELLED GLASS 'HIBISCUS AND BUTTERFLIES' SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

Zhirou Zhai Collection.
Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., 1993.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 6, Hong Kong, 2007, no. 1096.

Elongated air bubbles visible, running down the neck. Minor fading of the red enameling, the tips of the stems.
"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."

Several of the works associated with the Hu Xuan 胡軒 group (see Sale 3, lot 90; Sale 5, lots 62 and 99; Sale 6, lot 206; and Sale 7, lot 145) have fairly thick, often misfired enamels, and simple designs, This bottle stands precisely between those works and the first of the classic Guyuexuan wares (for an early example of which, see Sale 6, lot 228). Features of the Hu Xuan group remain, particularly in the limited palette, and in the ruby-pink flowers detailed in iron-red, but anticipated are other characteristics of the earlier phase of classic Guyuexuan wares, particularly in the thickly enamelled blue rocks with black detailing and the green leaves in two tones, also detailed in black line. The slightly milky, opalescent glass stands between the semi-transparent, milky glass of the earlier Qianlong reign and the colourless glass found on several of the single-plane, classic Guyue xuan wares (Sale 7, lot 148, and Treasury 6, no. 1099, for instance).

Although the painting is still relatively simple, a little more artistic flare is apparent, particularly noticeable in the painting of the butterflies. Instead of the simple depiction that looks like a specimen pinned down in a glass case (found on both the Hu Xuan group and the group represented Sale 8, lot 1088) they are more varied here and far more sophisticated in depiction. The painting of the windswept flowers is also more sophisticated, and the composition considerably more artistic and complex.

This is also a rare exception in having no mark at all, and the foot gives no evidence that it never had one.

Another interesting feature is that although a first impression suggests it is rather faded and worn, closer examination reveals it to be in remarkably good condition, with the enamels barely worn at all. The enamels, although not fired to perfection, are still in kiln condition, with all of the detailing intact. Only the lip shows evidence of having been used a fair amount and has extensive natural scratching from contact with a stopper. It may be that, in common with some of the earlier, coloured bottles of the group, it was enamelled on an existing plain glass bottle where the surface had been re-polished before enamelling, but the enamellers had not bothered to re-polish the lip, since it was not intended to be decorated.