A Pair of Blue and White Porcelain ‘Geese’ Snuff Bottles Siyi Tang zhi Marks, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century

Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 1979.
Belfort Collection, 1986.

Jutheau, 1980, p. 89.
Moss et al., 1996-2009, vol. 7, nos. 1417 and 1418.

Both are in 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. 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."

These two bottles have previously been dated rather earlier than they are likely to be, based mainly upon the obvious quality of the porcelain and glaze and on the rather unusual and delightful subject, linked with a lingering belief that nothing much of quality was made in the latter part of the nineteenth century. This is, of course, nonsense. Today we know that porcelain of very high standards was made throughout the Qing and even after the end of the dynasty.

Furthermore, there are clues that point to a late-Qing date of production here, as opposed to the earlier nineteenth century, namely, the corrupted lingzhi-head bands at the necks, which have become an almost illegible pattern, and the rather harsh quality of the blue.

The main subject is taken from a traditional scene, well-known in Chinese painting, of geese returning to sandbanks among the reeds at dusk.

It is impressive to have a ‘pair’ of these bottles but, as is usually the case, they are not really a pair at all, but two of identical design from a larger series. Another of the set survives, of the same design and with the same hall name (Low, 2002, no. 197).

Siyi tang is a name used by several businesses in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including pharmacies (which may be significant in view of the fact that the name on lot 1147in this sale is possibly that of a pharmacy). A few individuals seem to have used it, also. At this point, one can only hope that evidence will someday be found to tie this bottle to a particular person or enterprise.