A SILVER 'SCHOLARS IN A GARDEN' SNUFF BOTTLE LATE QING DYNASTY

together with a watercolour illustration by Peter Suart

Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., 1988.

Zhao Lihong, Biyanhu jianshang yu shoucang,Changchun, 1996, p. 124, centre.
Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 7, Hong Kong, 2009, no. 1628.

One small indentation to the lip and minor nibbles on the footrim. A small vertical line and slight indentation just above the foot.
"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."

Although unmarked, which is unusual for southern Chinese silver ware, this fits comfortably into the range of export wares made mostly in the south during the late Qing dynasty (see under Sale 5, lot 48). Like Sale 5, lot 48, it has been initially beaten from the reverse side and subsequently chased. There is very obviously only one join, however, so a sheet of silver must have been bent around to form the main body, which implies that the sheet of metal had its main design formed first and was then wrapped around on itself and joined vertically. The neck, base, and foot rim were added afterwards.

This has had considerable wear, suggesting that it might have remained in use in China rather than being exported to cabinet life in the West. It is possible that an export silver maker diverted this bottle for his own use (thus feeling no need to add his self-proclaiming shop mark to it). The wear could also be explained by a foreign snuff taker choosing to use the snuff bottle rather than a box, perhaps as an exotic fashion statement to impress his friends at home.

However, if one were to have a bottle of the same shape and design (differing only in minor details) that was similarly worn, suggesting that both were put to considerable use over the years—even though it is true that the state of wear on an individual bottle is not necessarily a reliable guide to age, particularly with a soft material like silver—this would be an indication that both bottles had stayed in China. It happens that just such a bottle is known from the Kaynes-Klitz Collection (Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 16th November 1989, lot 71). Quite apart from shape and style of the two, the scene is so similar that it can only have come from the same design and probably from the same hand.

Another reason for believing that both were for a Chinese market is the subject matter. The scene seems to illustrate the arrival of a scholar to be invested as an official, since as he is being greeted a servant holds an official court hat, presumably to present to him. This is the sort of subject that would be meaningful to a Chinese audience, but probably lost on a Western one. It was perhaps made as a gift for a successful scholar who was to be made an official.

A study of other export silver ware suggests that this bottle dates from the latter part of the Qing dynasty, despite the extent of the wear. There is, for instance, a presentation cup made in Shanghai in about 1869 that is of related style in the decoration (Sotheby’s, London 18th April 1987, lot 207).