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AN INSIDE PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE BY MA SHAOXUAN DATED AUTUMN OF THE GUIMAO YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1903
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description
- coral, glass
one side of the interior finely painted in a refined palette with a scene of the 'Two Qiao Sisters' seated on a bench with cracked-ice railings, reading a book, the other side with a poetic inscription referencing the scene, set between the date and artist's signature and seal reading Shaoxuan
Provenance
Private Texas Collection, 1991.
Christie's New York, 25th March 2011, lot 1579.
Christie's New York, 25th March 2011, lot 1579.
Condition
There is some slight polishing to the outer mouth rim, and minor wear to the pigments on the interior, but overall the bottle is in good condition. The spoon has been removed.
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
The story of the 'Two Qiao Sisters' comes from the 14th century novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. Considered great beauties, they were the daughters of Qiao Xuan, an Eastern Han dynasty official. The elder sister married the warlord Sun Ce, who established the foundation of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period; and the younger sister married general Zhou Yu, who served Sun Ce and his successor Sun Quan.
A similar bottle, with a cyclical date corresponding to 1896 from the George and Mary Bloch Collection is illustrated in Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, vol 4, part 2, Inside painted, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 373-375, no. 578, where it is noted that Ma first painted this subject in 1894. An example of a similar bottle with a date corresponding to 1899 from the Joe Grimberg Collection was sold in these rooms, 14th September 2010, lot 36.
A similar bottle, with a cyclical date corresponding to 1896 from the George and Mary Bloch Collection is illustrated in Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, vol 4, part 2, Inside painted, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 373-375, no. 578, where it is noted that Ma first painted this subject in 1894. An example of a similar bottle with a date corresponding to 1899 from the Joe Grimberg Collection was sold in these rooms, 14th September 2010, lot 36.