Lot Essay
The depiction of Zhuge Jun on one side of the bottle verifies that it is indeed Huang Chengyan and not Meng Haoran (his attendant usually depicted carrying a prunus branch), who rides the mule.
For a rare double overlay bottle depicting a scholar in a retreat, his attendant also sweeping outside, see Sotheby's, New York, Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Mei Ling Collection, March 15, 1984, lot 45; and another, in white and blue overlay, Sotheby's, London, Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles, March 23, 1988, lot 290. Another, with slender neck and an equestrian figure on each side, is illustrated by Hugh M. Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of the Rt. Hon. The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G., London, 1974, p. 84, pl. G.82
For a rare double overlay bottle depicting a scholar in a retreat, his attendant also sweeping outside, see Sotheby's, New York, Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Mei Ling Collection, March 15, 1984, lot 45; and another, in white and blue overlay, Sotheby's, London, Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles, March 23, 1988, lot 290. Another, with slender neck and an equestrian figure on each side, is illustrated by Hugh M. Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of the Rt. Hon. The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G., London, 1974, p. 84, pl. G.82