AN INSCRIBED RUBY-RED OVERLAY WHITE GLASS 'SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENT' SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY

Christie's New York, 4th June 1992, lot 61. 

Robert Kleiner, Boda Yang, and Clarence F. Shangraw, Chinese Snuff Bottles: A Miniature Art from the Collection of George and Mary Bloch, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1994, cat. no. 110.
National Museum of Singapore, Singapore, 1994-5.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 5, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 908.

The glass surface has been slightly degraded in some areas, possibly due to long term exposure to dampness. There is also a minute chip to the overlay on the neck.
"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."

Bottles of this form are rare. It is essentially a sphere with slight vertical but no lateral compression, to which neck and foot have been added. Set on a broad foot rim that gives it great stability, it seems designed to sit rather than be carried around.

Moreover, it is unusual in that its main decoration is an inscription, and it also displays around the shoulders an atypical border design where a formalized lingzhi-head shoulder band is attached to a neck band of plantain leaves.

The lotus-petal border round the base of this example is cut to shape and then detailed only with engraved lines, a feature unusual for this design and not exhibited by any of the imperial group. If it is imperial, this may have been made later than the Qianlong period, perhaps in the early decades of the nineteenth century, although the very crisp and confident foot rim is perhaps more typical of the eighteenth century. With such an unusual bottle, however, it may be unwise to read too much into this single feature.

It is said that the scholar who had won first place in the palace examination was required to stand outside the hall of the palace to await the official roster. The designated spot to wait was beside a sculpture of a giant turtle standing at the top of a flight of steps leading to the palace hall.