The Moeskops Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles Online
13 - 23 June 2022 | Montpelier Street, London
(All lots to be sold without reserve: 所有拍品無底價出售)
Bonhams Knightsbridge is delighted to offer the Moeskops Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles in an Online sale from 13-23 June. All lots are to be offered without reserve. This collection of 46 lots offers an eclectic range of bottles incorporating a wide range of materials such as overlay glass, jade, jadeite, porcelain, agate, quartz and fine inside painted glass examples – representing the diversity of techniques and aesthetic tastes of the snuff bottle craftsmen and collectors.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
LOT 1:
AN INSIDE PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE
Ma Shaoxuan, dated 1897
Painted on the inside, with the legendary sisters of the Qiao family, seated on an elaborate latticed day bed reading a book, with a red square seal above them 'Ma Guangjia yin', ('Seal of Mr Guangjia'), the reverse with a descriptive poem of thirty-seven characters in official script, followed by the signature, 'Ma Shaoxuan', and inscribed, 'Painted at the capital', dated 1897, with one seal of the artist, 'Shaoxuan'
The bottle 6.4cm (2 1/2in) high. (2).
£6,000-8,000
This well-known scene of the two Qiao sisters, famous for their legendary beauty, is taken from the classic, Sanguo yanyi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms). For a discussion of this subject, see G. G. Laverlochere, 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Source of Snuff Bottle Subjects,' Journal, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Spring, 1988, pp. 12-13.
For bottles painted with the same subject see, Robert Hall, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles III', page 42, no 111.
'A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles. The Mary and George Bloch Collection', Vol 4, part 2 page 392, no. 586.
For examples sold at auction see: Snuff Bottles From the Mary and George Bloch Collection, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 31 May 2015, lot 102; Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles, Bonhams New York, 13 November 2017, lot 8018.
Examples in Museums include: The Portland Art Museum, no. 2009.59.22; The British Museum, no. 1945,1017.318
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 5th October 2005
Robert Hall, London
Published: Friedman, Pamela, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Pamela R. Lessing Friedman Collection', page 144 no. 121.
LOT 3:
AN INSIDE PAINTED GLASS 'LANDSCAPE AND GOLDFISH' SNUFF BOTTLE
Zhou Leyuan, circa 1890
Set on a gently tapering oval footrim, the compressed body rising to a cylindrical neck with flattened lip, painted to one side with a pavilion nestling below gnarled pine trees, a solitary fisherman on a riverbank to the right, the river snaking into the distance beneath wispy clouds, the reverse with four fan-tailed goldfish amongst aquatic plants and below trailing branches, inscribed 'Leyuan Zhou' with one seal (yuan yin) and 'Painted at the capital', stopper.
6.5cm (2 1/2in) high. (2).
£2,000-3,000
For a similar bottle by Zhou Leyuan, see, Robert Hall, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles III', page 59, no. 36. Also Bonhams Hong Kong, 25 May 2011, lot 121. See also 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch', Robert Kleiner, 1987, p. 201, no. 268.
The classic landscape on this bottle with its gnarled pine trees, dramatic receding countryside and solitary fisherman is typical of Zhou Leyuan.
The reverse of the bottle painted with goldfish (yu) refers to abundance. A pond full of goldfish is a rebus for 'jinyu mantang', implying a wish for one's household to be filled with wealth.
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 5th October 2005.
Emily Byrne Curtis
Robert Hall, London
Published: Friedman, Pamela, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Pamela R Lessing Friedman Collection', page 140 no. 116.
LOT 4:
AN INSIDE PAINTED GLASS 'COCKEREL AND LANDSCAPE' SNUFF BOTTLE
Ding Erzhong, Xuannan, Beijing, dated gengzi year (1900)
Of flattened rounded rectangular form, set on an oval footrim, elegantly painted to one side with a mountainous pine-strewn river landscape, the reverse with a cockerel perched on rockwork beside a blossoming shrub and overhanging branches, inscribed 'given to Chen Baohao' 陳葆好, signed with one seal.
6.3cm (2 1/2in) high.
£10,000-15,000
This bottle is typical of Ding Erzhong whose highly accomplished and cultured style of painting reflects his scholarly, literatus background. He was one of a small group of scholar-painters who chose to paint inside snuff bottles. He used as his inspiration his extensive knowledge of Song, Yuan, and Ming painting. The composition of the landscape on this bottle is superb, with the trees guiding the eye back to the waterfall and dramatic rocks in the background, outlined in black.
Compare with a 'landscape and cockerel' snuff bottle by Ding Erzhong, dated 1898, 'Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection', Part V, Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 86.
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 5th October 2005
Emily Byrne Curtis
Published: Friedman, Pamela, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Pamela R Lessing Friedman Collection', page 138 no. 114.
Hugh M. Moss, 'Snuff Bottles of China' p. 145, no. 395.
Exhibited Hugh Moss, London, 'An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles' (1970), cat. no. 384.
Newark Museum, New Jersey, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of E.B. Curtis' (October/November 1982), cat. no. 28
LOT 5:
A FINE BLUE OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Attributed to Beijing, 1780-1820
Of elegant slender form, supported on a neat recessed oval foot, expertly carved with a continuous design of flowering peony, chrysanthemums, convolvulus and irises issuing from pierced rockwork, on an opaque milky-white ground, imitation coral stopper carved with a dragon.
The bottle 7cm (2 3/4in) high. (2).
£2,000-3,000
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006.
LOT 6:
AN ELEGANT TWO-COLOUR OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Attributed to Yangzhou, 1800-1850
Of flattened elongated oval form, carved in alternating pale blue and red overlay glass to each side with a blossoming prunus tree, bamboo, flowering chrysanthemum and lilies, the body of pale greenish white hue, pink tourmaline and turquoise collar stopper.
The bottle 7cm (2 3/4in) long. (2).
£1,500-2,000
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006.
Avrina Pugh, Texas.
LOT 8:
A YELLOW GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1736-1795
Of flattened rounded form with a recessed convex foot, the opaque glass of rich egg-yolk yellow hue, green quartz and metal stopper.
The bottle 6.5cm (2 1/2in) high. (2).
£3,000-5,000
The Imperial yellow colour was reserved for the private use of the emperor only. Imperial yellow snuff bottles were made in a variety of hues, some are noted as lemon yellow, some as egg yolk yellow, but all were for his personal enjoyment This particular colour relates to his other glass wares made in the Imperial confines of Beijing around the l760's-l780's.
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006.
LOT 9:
A FINE ROYAL-BLUE AVENTURINE-SPLASHED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Beijing, 18th century
Of flattened pear-shape, set on a short neatly cut recessed foot, the body rising to a wide mouth, the opaque blue glass suffused with copper coloured aventurine glass inclusions of varying size, pink tourmaline and gilt metal stopper.
The bottle 6.5cm (2 1/2in) high. (2).
£1,500-2,000
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006.
LOT 18:
A FINE JADEITE SNUFF BOTTLE
1780-1820
Of flattened rounded rectangular form, with flat lip and recessed foot surrounded by a wide footrim, the pale stone suffused with bright apple green inclusions.
The bottle 6.2cm (2 3/8in) high.
£4,000-6,000
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006.
Bernard Schwartz, New York.
According to The Gem and Pearl Laboratory report certificate no. 21646, no evidence of treatment was observed to the stone.
LOT 19:
A FINE JADEITE OVIFORM SNUFF BOTTLE
1780-1850
Extremely well hollowed, the icy grey-green stone with wispy darker green inclusions to the front, the reverse plain.
4.7cm (1 7/8in) high.
£2,000-3,000
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006.
Arthur Gadsby, Hong Kong
Robert Hall, London
Published: Friedman, Pamela, 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Pamela R Lessing Friedman Collection', page 86 no. 63.
LOT 23:
A MOTTLED GREY JADE 'MELON AND BUTTERFLIES' SNUFF BOTTLE
18th century
Of flattened form, finely carved with two butterflies amongst gnarled leafy vine tendrils trailing down over the lobed fruit, the dark grey stone with an area of creamy and russet mottling to one side, box.
6.3cm (2 1/2in) high.
£3,000-5,000
The melon and butterfly form the rebus guadie mianmian, which is a wish for numerous descendants. There are several white jade bottles with this motif illustrated in 'Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum', Taipei, 1991, nos. 142, 143, 145 and 153.
Provenance: Purchased from Robert Hall, 18th January 2006
C.P .Lee, Australia
LOT 30:
A FINE CARVED SUZHOU AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE
18th/19th century
Of flattened rounded form, supported on a gently recessed foot with protruding footrim, rising to a wide flat-lipped neck, the body flanked by a pair of lion mask and ring handles, finely carved in low relief with a gentleman seated in a fenced garden amongst overhanging pine and ornamental rockwork, a crane in flight amongst wispy clouds above, the reverse with pine and lingzhi issuing from stylised rock formations, the brown and deep russet markings skilfully incorporated into the design to the front, the reverse with banded striations suggestive of a waterfall cascading amongst the rocks, box.
5.7cm (2 1/4in) high. (2).
£3,000-5,000
Suzhou carving is typified by expertly using within the design, the natural colours or flaws of a stone; also by the frequency in the depiction of rocks and mountains, including natural folds and striations. The style of the relief carving, in particular, the convoluted, pierced rockwork, in the current example is similar to those found on other Suzhou agate snuff bottles of the Zhiting School that replicate the rocks in local gardens.
For examples of this group, see 'The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles', Bob C. Stevens, 1994, nos. 570-575.
Provenance: Sotheby's Amsterdam, 22 May 2006, lot 190.
LOT 31:
A SILHOUETTE HONEY AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE
18th/19th century
Of flattened rounded form, set on a neat oval footrim, the part concave surface utlising the dark brown skin, carved with two mariners in a sailing boat, bearing a three-character auspicious inscription: 一帆風順 Yifanfengshun, (have a good trip), the stone of pale honey hue with deeper russet inclusions, mother-of-pearl and glass stopper, box.
The bottle 5.6cm (2 1/4in) high. (3).
£3,000-4,000
For other examples of silhouette agate bottles depicting a mariners motif see: Bonhams New York, The Linda Riddell Hoffman Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, 22 March 2011, lot 120; Bonhams Hong Kong, 26 November 2019, lot 69; Christie's Hong Kong, 8 October 2020, lot 54; Sotheby's New York, The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, 14 September 2010, lot 45.
