A RARE BLACK AND WHITE JADE INSCRIBED SNUFF BOTTLE, SIGNED SHIXIANG, SUZHOU SCHOOL QING DYNASTY, MID 18TH / EARLY 19TH CENTURY

of compressed globular form, the rounded body rising from an oval concave base to a slightly tapered neck, the interior well hollowed, the white inclusion on one face of the black stone masterfully carved in high relief forming a circular cameo medallion, depicting a reclining scholar dressed in a long-sleeved robe, resting under a tall pawlonia tree while a monkey kneeling on the rockwork in front offers him a peach, the reverse with a calligraphy after Sun Guoting's Shupu ('Treatise on Calligraphy'), deftly incised and gilt in caoshu ('grass script') on a raised circular panel, signed Shixiang with the seal Yun, tourmaline stopper set on a jadeite collar

The Liddell Collection, London.
Bluett & Sons, London.
Mrs. Alfred Clark, London.
A private English collection.
Christie's London, 18th June 2002, lot 175.

The overall condition is very good with no chips or nicks to the carved side. The gilding within the carved calligraphy is well preserved. The bottle is well hollowed.
"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."

The present piece is a fine example of a group of Suzhou jade snuff bottles that incorporated the layers of colour in jade pebbles with dramatic effect. These layers were carved into cameos to decorate the bottles, where the white or pale grey inclusions of the jade pebble were carved in relief against the black ground. The craftsman can be seen to have developed the technique in this piece; rather than employing the black pebble for the background, he has carefully carved a plaque-like medallion from the white layer that is further accentuated with another layer of black. Furthermore, the white relief has been skilfully carved into a cave-like enclosure, which may represent the Immortal dwelling dongtian ('cave heaven'), which is reinforced by the monkey holding a peach. By carefully polishing the reverse and adding an elegant inscription he draws attention to the even dark hue of the high-quality stone.

The flowing inscription, unusual for its placement within a raised panel, is an excerpt from Shupu ('The Treatise on Calligraphy'), composed and written by the celebrated Tang calligrapher and calligraphy critic Sun Guoting in circa 687 AD. Written on a scroll almost nine meters in length, the text concentrates on the art of Wang Xizhi (303-361 AD), one of the masters of calligraphy, and begins with two of his quotes, the first of which is inscribed on this bottle:

Compare my calligraphy with that of Zhong You and Zhang Zhi, Zhong is at an equal level with me. Some might even say that I surpass him. Zhang's cursive style, however, is ahead of mine. However, Zhang was skilful and practised; the water of his pond had all turned to ink [from his practice]. If I were to indulge in it like so, I would not necessarily be inferior to him.

A snuff bottle inscribed with the quote immediately following the above, also signed Shixiang, in the Monimar collection, is illustrated in Clare Lawrence, Miniature Masterpieces from the Middle Kingdom. The Monimar Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, London, 1996, pl. 66.

Further examples of this type and signed Shixiang include one in the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, illustrated in Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, New York, 1976, pls 433-434; and another from the Joseph Baruch Silver collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st May 1994, lot 901.

Compare bottles similarly carved from black and white jade pebbles depicting a figural scene on the front and inscription on the reverse, such as one from the Kardos and Joe Grimberg collections, sold in our New York rooms, 1st July 1985, lot 206, and illustrated in Vanessa F. Holden, 'The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles', Oriental Art, 2002, vol. 48, no. 4, pls 18 and 19; and one from the Roland Hartman, Hugh Moss, Belfort and Mary and George Bloch collections, illustrated in Hugh Moss et. al., A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, vol. 1, pl. 126.