A CARVED LIME-GREEN GLAZED PORCELAIN 'PRUNUS' SNUFF BOTTLE WANG BINGRONG, QING DYNASTY, c.1820-1860

with a flat lip and recessed flat foot surrounded by a protruding flat footrim, carved on one main side with a blossoming prunus tree, the foot inscribed in relief seal script, Wang Bingrong zuo ('made by Wang Bingrong'); the lime-green glazed stopper of similar date but not original

Collection of Marilyn Shen.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd., 1965.
Collection of Cyril Green.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd., 1967.
Collection of Ian Wasserman.
Sotheby’s London, 6th June 1988, lot 341.

Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, The British Museum, London, 1995, cat. no. 236.
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1997.

Chen Tao, Jianshi biyanhu, Fuzhou, 2002, p. 22, fig. 34.
Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 6, Hong Kong, 2007, no. 1356.

The snuff bottle is in good condition. There is some surface abrasions from use, particularly on the reverse where it was laid flat on its back. The actual colour is slightly warmer compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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."

This is one of Wang Bingrong’s masterpieces, with particular detailing and undercutting of the relief design, though the prunus theme is unusual for him. The winter-blossoming prunus was not a common subject for the Jingdezhen porcelain makers. The gnarled old tree is splendidly composed and executed, and the two prominent blossoms significant. When a prunus has two unusually large blossoms, it generally represents marital harmony. Another unusual feature of this bottle is the blank reverse. Although Wang’s subjects are customarily focussed on one main side, the design usually extends around the narrow sides to the other main side. The reverse side accommodates the less important aspects of the design or, on rare occasions, an inscription, but even then the pictorial subject tends to wrap around a little onto the reverse. This is one of his few works with a completely blank back.  The signature here is in one of his two forms of engraved signatures, in seal script; the colour is another of the pastel colours he preferred.