AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE MA SHAOXUAN, TENTH MONTH, 1902

with a flat lip and a recessed convex foot surrounded by a protruding rounded footrim; painted on one main side with an ink portrait of Na Dong’a, the other main side inscribed in regular script with a poetic inscription preceded by the date renyin shi yue (‘the tenth month of the year renyin’, corresponding to 1902), and followed by the signature Ma Shaoxuan, with one seal of the artist, Shaoxuan, in negative seal script; the tourmaline stopper with a vinyl collar

Arts of China, Hong Kong, 1985.

Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch at the Galleries of Sydney L. Moss, Ltd., Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1987, cat. no. 293.
Creditanstalt, Vienna, 1993.
Christie's London, 1999.

Emily Byrne Curtis, 'News and Viewpoints. Some Comments on the Bloch Catalogue', Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Spring 1989, p. 31.
Ma Zengshan, Inside-Painted Snuff Bottle Artist Ma Shaoxuan (1867-1936): A Biography and Study, Baltimore, 1997, p. 54, fig. 37 and p. 76, fig. 76.
Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 4, Hong Kong, 2000, no. 587.

The bottle and the painting are both overall in very good condition. The lip and footring are in good condition. The glass ground has a very light brownish tinge which does not show on 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."

The subject of this portrait was identified by Emily Byrne Curtis; see Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Spring 1989, p. 31. The man portrayed here is a Manchu named Natong (also written Na Tong, 1857-1925), a high official of the same lineage (Yehenala) as the Empress Dowager. After the fall of Beijing in the Boxer Rebellion, Na together with Yikuang and Li Hongzhang were charged with negotiating with the foreign powers; the year before the date on this bottle. He had gone to Japan to convey official apologies for the death of a member of the Japanese delegation during the Boxer Rebellion.

The poem may be translated as follows:

          The virtues of clear ice and pure jade,
          Are united in equal measure in his own person.
          So when he enters the realm of many fragrances,
          He can ‘be steeped in a dark fluid without being made black’.

The last line is a quotation from the Confucian Analects, where Confucius justifies his associating with someone who is less than worthy by saying he cannot be corrupted.