1894年 料胎內畫「山水雙燕」圖鼻煙壺 馬少宣製 《甲午春日馬少宣》《時在甲午桃月少宣》款

雙燕圖題詩：「杏花將開放，雙燕欲來時。」

Hugh Moss 收藏
倫敦蘇富比1979年3月6日，編號201

倫敦佳士得，1999年

Hugh Moss 編，《Chinese Snuff Bottles》，編號2，倫敦，1965年，頁39，圖2
馬增善，《馬少宣與內畫藝術》，巴爾的摩，1997年，頁30，圖2及3
Hugh Moss、Victor Graham 及曾嘉寶，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，卷4，香港，2000年，編號576.

There are a few minuscule chips to the outer rim, one to the top of the neck. There is a tiny scratch across the lip. Apart from some light snuff stains on the painting is in overall 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."

Other than one inside-painted landscape with Zhou Leyuan’s signature, the present bottle is the earliest recorded version of Ma Haoxuan’s typical naïve landscape style, which was to appear regularly throughout his career. It is one of two alternative styles of landscape he painted, the other, as seen in much more detailed and complex paintings, is represented by two bottles from the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 25^th May 2011, lot 27 and 28^thNovember 2011, lot 62.

The poetic inscription accompanying the picture may be translated as follows:

When the apricots are about to bloom,
The swallows would come in pairs.