AN INSCRIBED BROWN-OVERLAY WHITE GLASS 'MAGPIE AND PRUNUS' SNUFF BOTTLE PROBABLY YANGZHOU SCHOOL, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

of translucent olive-brown and translucent white glass, with a flat lip and recessed convex foot surrounded by a protruding flattened footrim, carved as a single overlay with a continuous rocky landscape scene with, on one main side, two magpies in the branches of a blossoming prunus tree, while two more frolic in the air above an orchid growing beside a rocky outcrop, and on the other with an old man beckoning to a flying crane from a rocky outcrop with pine tree growing from it, inscribed in relief seal script, Hezai (The crane is…); the tourmaline stopper with a vinyl collar; together with a watercolour illustration by Peter Stuart

Robert Hall, London, 1984.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 5, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 1028.

There are some minor nibbles to the inner lip; otherwise the snuff bottle is in overall very good 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. 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 magnificent bottle exhibits all the features of the best of the glass-overlay bottles we attribute to the Yangzhou school. It is carved with superb boldness and an extremely well executed composition.

The inscription 'The crane is...' may be from the Book of Changes, where the text for a line in Hexagram 61 says 'A calling crane is in the shadows; its young answer it'. This is interpreted as denoting the sincere responsiveness that is evoked by someone who has perfected her virtue while residing in obscurity.