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A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'KUILONG AND SHOU CHARACTER' SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 HKD
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Description
- cloisonne
Provenance
Acquired in Shanghai, prior to 1948.
Collection of Margaret Prescott Wise.
Collection of Edgar and Roberta Prescott Wise.
Robert Kleiner, London, 1996.
Collection of Margaret Prescott Wise.
Collection of Edgar and Roberta Prescott Wise.
Robert Kleiner, London, 1996.
Literature
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. 1117.
Condition
The overall condition is fairly good, except for a tiny chip in the black ground to the right of one of the narrow yellow bands. There is also some expected wear, especially to the guilding on the lip and the foot rim, as well as to the surface of both sides from use.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
This design in cloisonné seems to have been a popular one from sometime during the mid-Qianlong period to the end of the reign. Many examples exist that are of the same subject of typically imperial, highly stylised archaistic kui dragons set in panels, and all are of similar shape. Several series are found in several different colour combinations, with some fully inlaid with enamel and others partially inlaid. For examples, see the commentary on this bottle in Treasury 6.
The entire group has previously been considered nineteenth century simply because its exemplars looked obviously later than the ones with Qianlong reign marks. However, this group represents such a high technical level of cloisonné artistry that it seems sensible to expect them to have been part of imperial production, possibly in the palace workshops, possibly elsewhere.