清十八 / 十九世紀 青花番蓮「團壽」紋皮囊式鼻煙壺

Sasson 收藏，巴西

Hugh Moss、Victor Graham 及曾嘉寶，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，卷6，香港，2007年，編號1284

It is 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."

Given the association of a pouch form with the pouches worn on court dress, this is a likely imperial form. In this case, the nature of the blue-and-white decoration is commensurate with a mid-Qing date, but there is a series of other bottles of this size and form with other decorative techniques that are easier to date, and they are from later in the Qing dynasty (see, for instance, JICSBS, Autumn 1996, p. 1, for a Robert Hall advertisement showing two bottles of the same shape from the mid- to late nineteenth century). The design may have been adopted for porcelain snuff bottles at some time during the late eighteenth century; it was repeated in various different versions for a century or more. The unglazed interior on the present example may suggest that the series of blue-and-white versions it represents are from earlier part of that range.

Among pouch-form porcelain snuff bottles this is one of the most impressive, owing to its formal integrity, bulging shape (more generous than the original pouches), and crisp, prominent lateral flange. These bottles appear to have been made in sets, which would accord with mid-Qing imperial production. (The lack of reign mark is, in this case, of no significance, since the shape does not provide a suitable place to inscribe one.)

This bottle has usable holes for cords, allowing it, if required, to be suspended from the belt rather than being carried in a pouch or in the hand, thus setting up an amusing visual paradox: the ‘imitation’ pouch is a functional pouch in its own right.