AN INSIDE-PAINTED CRYSTAL 'LANDSCAPE' SNUFF BOTTLE GAN XUANWEN, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Hugh M. Moss Ltd., 1985.

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. 460.

Bottle: Chip to the inner and outer lip and a tiny line across the lip. One larger chip to the footrim and three smaller nibbles. A small chip on one top corner of the narrow side. A tiny smoothed out chip on the top right corner of the main side. Tiny scratches on both narrow sides and a chip on the left, half way down the main side. Painting: Snuff stained and some scratched from the spoon visible on the back.
"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."

This is another example of Gan Xuanwen’s use of a letter by the great calligraphy master Wang Xizhi; other examples were Sale 7, lot 48 and Sale 8, lot 1036.

省足下別疏，具彼土山川諸奇，楊雄蜀都、左太沖三都，殊為不備悉。彼故為多奇，益令其遊目意足也。

I have read your letter describing all the wonders of Shu [Sichuan]. Even the Shu Capital Rhapsody by Yang Xiong and the Three Capitals Rhapsody by Zuo Si were not as detailed. Truly there are many marvels there, and it makes me wish even more to satisfy myself by wandering there to see everything.

This is slightly less than half of the Shu du tie 蜀都帖, which is altogether 102 characters long.