1840-1920

Details

**AN UNUSUAL CARVED BAMBOO FISH-FORM SNUFF BOTTLE
1840-1920
Well carved from a hollow cross-section of bamboo culm in the form of a swimming goldfish, its tail flicked to the side to simulate movement, aquatic plants curling around its mouth and beneath its head, its bulging eyes inlaid in horn with jet pupils, original bamboo stopper and bamboo spoon
2¼ in. (5.65 cm.) long

Provenance

Hugh M. Moss Ltd. (London, 1986)

Literature

Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle The J & J Collection, Vol. II, no. 270
The Miniature World-An Exhibition of Snuff Bottles from the J & J Collection, p. 58

Exhibited

Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, 2003
Poly Art Museum, Beijing, 2003

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

Bamboo containers were appreciated largely for their naturalness, although examples can vary considerably in the quality of the finish, surface markings and intensity of color. This unusual fish bottle, with its short, swishing tail and its charmingly bug-eyed expression, is distinguished by the immense personality of the subject and the rare inlaid eyes. The artist's use of the speckled markings to suggest a textured skin for the fish is particularly noteworthy.
The Chinese character for fish (yu) is a pun on the similarly pronounced character meaning "abundance" or "plenty". Fish are also symbols of fecundity, as they spawn many eggs.

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