73 - A RARE WHITE OVERLAY ON BLUE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE PROBABLY IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, 1750-1790

A RARE WHITE OVERLAY ON BLUE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE PROBABLY IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, 1750-1790 To Be Sold Without Reserve Of rounded rectangular form with a cylindrical neck, wide mouth, flat lip and recessed, slightly convex oval foot surrounded by a protruding, convex oval foot rim, carved as a single overlay of white on sapphire-blue with, on one main side with three goats, one standing on an outcrop of rock peering at the sun partially obscured by formalized clouds above jutting prunus branches, and on the other with chrysanthemums growing beside a natural rock formation in a garden Height: 7cm Provenance: Hanhai, Beijing, 24 October 1996, lot 119 Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd Meriem Collection Christie’s, New York, 19 September 2007, lot 701 Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 6th October 2007, (a copy of the original invoice available) Published: Zhongguo Biyanhu Zhenshang, ‘Chinese Snuff Bottle Connoisseurship’, Beijing, 1992, p. 88, no. 85 It is extremely rare to find a white overlay on dark sapphire-blue glass bottle, and the masterful and confident carving on this bottle sets this example apart as one of the most spectacular of all glass overlay snuff bottles. The three goats on one side are carved with great skill, the artist creating a sense of depth and perspective that belies the essentially two-plane carving Three goats (sanyang) represent prosperity and renewal at the beginning of the year (sanyang kaitai), an idea reinforced by the sun (taiyang) on the horizon while the blossoming prunus has long inspired the literati with its fortitude in blossoming when snow is still on the ground. Flourishing in adversity, it became a powerful symbol of the Confucian scholar who strived to serve the best interest of his country despite whatever hardships he might encounter. Along with lotus, orchid and bamboo, the chrysanthemum is regarded as one of the “Four Gentlemen of flowers”, and has traditionally been very highly regarded in China. Chrysanthemums are mentioned in such early classical literature as The Book of Odes, and are symbols of longevity and wealth as well as being the flowers representing autumn Ω This Lot was imported from outside of the UK, under the Temporary Admission regime 5% import VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer” and 20% VAT will be charged on the ‘buyer’s premium