清十八 / 十九世紀 掐絲琺瑯夔龍拱壽鼻煙壺

1948年以前購於上海
Margaret Prescott Wise 收藏
Edgar and Roberta Prescott Wise 伉儷收藏
Robert Kleiner，倫敦，1996年

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1117

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."

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.