127 - AN IRON-RED PORCELAIN ‘ZHONG KUI’ SNUFF BOTTLE JINGDEZHEN, 1810-1870

AN IRON-RED PORCELAIN ‘ZHONG KUI’ SNUFF BOTTLE JINGDEZHEN, 1810-1870 To Be Sold Without Reserve Of elongated cylindrical form, the conical shoulders funnelling into a widely flared neck, with a recessed circular foot, painted with a continuous design predominantly in iron-red but with minor black details, of Zhong Kui, the legendary demon-queller, wielding his sword and attended by five demons, one standing on his hands pouring wine from a wine jug held between his feet into a cup held by another kneeling demon, while a third kneels to act as a footrest and two others prance in front of him holding two further unidentified objects, a bat above his right shoulder Height: 7.6cm Provenance: Scott Hsieh, Taipei Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 26th September 1996, (a copy of the original invoice available) During the nineteenth century the Qing mastery of iron-red enamel was applied to snuff bottles, often of extraordinary quality. A thin, very easily applied enamel, it can be used like ink to achieve very fine line, subtle gradation of wash and other distinctive qualities often absent from the heavier and less malleable enamels. Its potential for detail, however, is balanced by its weakness and it is very easily worn, a state most early and well-used snuff bottles are in. This particular example represents a kiln whose control of this colour during the nineteenth century was the height of the art. For another, of identical form and with the same subject, although a different composition, by the same artist or workshop, but rather more worn see, Robert Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, no. 218 Ω This Lot was imported outside of the UK, under the Temporary Admission scheme. 5% import VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer’ price and 20% VAT will be charged on the ‘buyer’s premium’. If proof of export outside of the UK can be provided for this item within 3 months of the sale date, then the VAT can be refunded. Please contact us for further details and shipping advice