This important Canton enamel snuff bottle comes from a rare group that includes two other well-known examples: one in the V&A Museum in London, and one that was sold by Bonhams in 2022. All three examples have the following in common:
-blue archaic interlocking top border design
-very fine delicate painting of flowers and rockery
-flattened pear-shape form
-blue Qianlong Nian Zhi four-character mark
This particular example also portrays a detailed cricket.
We acquired this bottle as part of a New York estate collection of antique snuff bottles.
The V&A Museum dates their example to Qianlong (1736-1795). Bonhams dated theirs a bit more conservatively to 1780-1850, as Qianlong mark and “possibly of the period”. Of the many Canton enamel examples we have handled, including several 18th century pieces, we feel confident in calling this bottle Qianlong mark and of the period.
Snuff bottle approximately 2 1/8” tall (minus stopper). Excellent condition. Coral stopper missing spoon. Please zoom in and study all photos as they are part of the description.
References:
V&A Museum - Chinese snuff bottle, 1736-1795, Qing dynasty; copper, with painted enamel decoration depicting a flowering plant.
Gift of Brig. Leslie H. Aste
ACCESSION NUMBER FE.61-1970
Helen White, “Snuff Bottles from China”, London, 1992, pl. 128
Bonhams - AN ENAMEL ON COPPER SNUFF BOTTLE
Attributed to Guangzhou, 1780-1850
THE JOAN AND TED DORF COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES AND ARCHERS RINGS
19 September 2022, 10:00 EDT
New York
Provenance of Bonhams example:
Sotheby's, London, June 7, 1990, lot 299
Blanche B. Exstein Collection
Christie's, New York, March 21, 2002, The Blanche B. Exstein Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles, lot 66
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 317
