A FINE AND RARE CARVED PORCELAIN BOTTLE BY WANG BINGRONG, 1820 - 1860

of teardrop form, finely carved with a continous scene of a majestic crane bending forward with one leg bent upon a large pine trunk wrapping around the body, all beneath a green enamel ground with puce and black highlights, the base with raised sealmark Wang Bingrong zuo, matching stopper

Sotheby's Hong Kong sale October, 2000, lot 681

There is a minute chip to one branch on the decoration.
"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."

Guo'an Collection Inventory no. 351

From the collection of Bob C.  Stevens, sold in our New York rooms, 25 June 1982, lot 68

Published: Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, no. 291

One of the undisputed masters of this medium, very few bottles of this design by Wang are recorded; see the white bottle, Bob C. Stevens, ibid, no. 290, and possibly a yellow bottle exhibited Snuff Bottles of the Ch'ing Dynsaty, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, no. 116. The present lot bears the most balanced design and compares very well with the masterpiece by Chen Guozhi in the J & J Collection, Moss, Graham & Tsang, The Art...., no. 249.

Compare also the confident treatment of the tree-trunk with the rare prunus bottle in the Bloch Collection, Kleiner 1995, no. 236. An unsigned brown crane bottle on a pierced ground, ibid, no. 238, is closely related to Wang's more common dragon design, see the J &  J Collection, Moss, Graham & Tsang, The Art...., no. 248, and no other bottle appears to bear such an indisputable signature.