A RARE INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS BOTTLE

SIGNED MA SHAOXUAN AND DATED GENGXI YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1900

细节

A RARE INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS BOTTLE
Signed Ma Shaoxuan and Dated Gengxi Year, Corresponding to 1900
Of rounded rectangular shape, painted on one side in pale enamels with an unidentified Beijing opera actor in the role of Wu Zixu in Wen Zhao Guan, the reverse with six vertical lines of calligraphy related to this story, including the artist's name, seal and date
26in. (6.5cm.) high

拍品专文

For a bottle depicting the same figure and dated to 1900, see Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, New York and Tokyo, 1980, p. 240, no. 852. For a similar bottle depicting the same actor, but with a different inscription on the reverse, see Emily Byrne Curtis, Reflected Glory in a Bottle, New York, 1980, p. 100, fig. 142. The author notes that the actor has been mistakenly called Tan Xinpei on several occasions. However, authorities on the subject in Beijing pointed out that Tan Xinpei never played this role. Because of the similarity of the facial features to Tan Xinpei, however, one can speculate that the artist continued to copy the features regardless of whether or not Tan appeared in the role

The drama Wen Zhao Guan is set in the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.) and relates to the story of General Wu Zixu and his desire to leave the city of Wen Zhao Guan. The authorities refused his exit and Wu Zixu spent many months worrying about his dilemma. Finally, overnight, his hair turned completely white and he was able to exit the city unrecognized