AN INSIDE PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL BOTTLE

细节

AN INSIDE PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL BOTTLE
SIGNED YE ZHONGSAN, THE YE FAMILY AT THE APRICOT GROVE STUDIO, DATED 3RD MONTH, YISI YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1905

Of flattened rounded shape, painted in bright tones on one side with Huang Chengyan riding his mule, his attendant alongside in a snowy landscape continuing to the reverse where a greeting in a gateway is taking place, the narrow sides carved with mask handles--2 5/16in. (5.7cm.) high, stopper

拍品专文

This was a very popular theme with the Ye family. The scene depicts an episode titled 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage' from the novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The story relates to Liu Bei's attempts to enlist the services of the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang. The setting here illustrates the second visit when Liu Bei was informed that Zhuge Liang was not at home, and so bids farewell to Zhuge's younger brother Zhuge Jun while Zhang Fei, the sworn fraternity of Liu attends to the horse. The figure on the donkey is Huang Chengyan, father-in-law of the strategist.

For a similar bottle also dated to 1905 and further discussion of the artist, see Humphrey K.F. Hui and Christopher C.H. Sin, An Imperial Qing Tradition, Hong Kong, 1994, p. 195, pl. 230