AN ENAMELLED PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE

of octagonal shape, below with a waisted neck, painted in famille-rose enamels, iron-red and gilded, both faces of convex form, one depicting a lively garden of flowers, including peony, poppy and chrysanthemum, the reverse with a 28-character inscription and two red seals, Qian long, each vignette encircled by a gilt border within a constellation of iron-red dots, the sides painted with lotus and chrysanthemum scrolls, the flat mouth gilded, the four-character Qianlong nianzhi seal mark in iron-red on a flat base

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 3rd November 1994, lot 1026.

There is minor rubbing to center of inscription, but not on the famille-rose painting. There is slight rubbing to the gilding around the edge of the mouth. Otherwise in good overall condition.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The octagonal shape and concave panels are characteristics derived from 18th century glass wares made in the Palace Workshops. This group of bottles was often made in sets for the Palace to be sent as gifts. For example, a set of twenty foliate-shaped bottles of similar design to the present example, also with Qianlong iron-red seal marks, is depicted in situ in the original fitted box. It is in the collection of The National Palace Museum in Taipei and illustrated in Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991, fig. 74, p. 114.

Qianlong period enamelled porcelain snuff bottles are relatively scarce. This is somewhat puzzling, especially considering the emperor's ardent enthusiasm for enamelled wares. Perhaps it is because the translucency prized in the porcelain medium was very difficult to obtain in the snuff bottle format due to the narrow walls.

The inscription, which describes the Yu Meiren flowers (corn poppy flowers) painted on the reverse, can be translated as:

'An ode of Yuji reminiscing on the sorrow of the fateful departure,
Still wandering about on the bank of Chu River are the Yu Meiren flowers.
Who would think that the one adoring and caring for them
Is not Xiang Yu from that early time?'