215 - A SILVER MEIPING FORM SNUFF BOTTLE, NORTH CHINA OR MONGOLIA 1740- 1860

A SILVER MEIPING FORM SNUFF BOTTLE, NORTH CHINA OR MONGOLIA 1740- 1860 To Be Sold Without Reserve Decorated around the upper neck rim with a band of raised dots beneath a single line, at the shoulders with a band of raised dots between two serrated lines above a mantle of formalized floral design enclosed in `V’ shapes, and around the base with a broad band of stiff, formalized lotus petals above a band of raised dots which stops slightly above the foot Height: 6.4cm Provenance: Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 30th September 2008, (a copy of the original invoice available) Snuff apparently spread across the Steppes rapidly after its introduction to the East, probably following the nomadic tribes from its Northern introduction via Japan the Korean peninsula and Manchuria in the early to mid-seventeenth century. The Mongolians favoured metal, or metal-mounted bottles, and often used inlaid semi-precious stones, particularly coral, malachite and turquoise. They were horsemen and nomads and needed sturdy bottles that would stand up to a lot of wear. Silver bottles without inlaid stones are unusual and this is one of the most exciting recorded with its very Chinese form, unusual for Mongolian bottles, of the meiping shape with its elegantly oval body tapering to a cylindrical foot, and with a narrow, but flared mouth. It is possible that it is not Mongolian, but Northern Chinese and simply decorated in the style of the Steppes, which in part was influenced by Central Asian style and even Indian style, hence the base band of formalized design taken from a Buddhist lotus throne. Two other similar bottles are known, both in the Ruth and Carl Barron Collection 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