AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS BOTTLE

SIGNED MA SHAOXUAN AND DATED YIWEI YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1905

细节

AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS BOTTLE
Signed Ma Shaoxuan and Dated Yiwei Year, Corresponding to 1905
Of rounded rectangular shape, elegantly painted on one side with the Qiao sisters seated on a cane bench reading, flanked by Ma Shaoxuan's seal and two characters naming the sisters, with a long calligraphic inscription ending with another seal on the reverse, stopper
2in. (6.4cm.) high

拍品专文

For a similar depiction of this famous scene by Ma Shaoxuan see Robert W.L. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, Hong Kong, 1987, col. pl. 290; Lila S. Perry, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Japan, 1960, col. pl. 138; Soame Jenyns, Chinese Art III, 1982, no. 201b for an example from the British Museum, London; and Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles III, Hong Kong, 1990, Catalogue, pp. 42-43, no. 26

This scene depicting the two Qiao sisters, Daqiao and Erqiao, is taken from San Guo Yan Yi (The Romance of the Three Kingdoms). For further discussion of this subject see an article by Gayle Gray Laverlochere, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Source of Snuff Bottle Subjects", The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Journal, Spring, 1988, pp. 12-13

Other similar bottles depicting the Qiao sisters have been sold in our New York rooms, December 3, 1992, lot 402; The Reif Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, October 18, 1993, lot 202; and December 2, 1993, lot 388