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Lot Essay
With its striking design and charming subject, this bottle ranks among the finest examples of the classic Guyue xuan carved-relief type. After the initial period of development of the Guyue xuan style from 1767 to around 1770, there followed a period of crisp, confident and technically excellent snuff bottles of two main types: one which was enameled on the flat surface of the bottle and, as represented by the present example, one where the enameling was added to enhance and complete a partial relief design. The carved group most likely evolved from the earlier, single-plane group. This evolution probably took place sometime between 1767 when the Qianlong Emperor completed his intended retirement home, which included the terrace named Guyue xuan, and the 1780s, with production possibly continuing until his death in 1799. For details on the Guyue xuan, see lot 40, and for recent research into this intriguing area of Palace enameling, see H. Moss, "Mysteries of the Ancient Moon," JICSBS, Spring 2006.
These carved-relief bottles required close cooperation with a high-quality, experienced glassworks. Such close co-operation between private workshops is unusual but standard at the Imperial workshops.
Magpies (xique) symbolize joy or happiness and, depending on the number depicted, convey good wishes for each month of the year, each day of the month, and so on. The prunus appearing on this bottle is apparently of a variety known as "wax plum" due to its translucent, wax-like petals. The combination of wax-plum blossoms and magpies forms a rebus for "happiness up to one's eyebrows."
For two other Guyue xuan bottles enameled with magpies, but without relief, see P. Friedman, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Pamela R. Lessing Friedman Collection, nos. 96 and 97. Another bottle of similar subject is in the Princeton University Art Museum and illustrated by M. C. Hughes, The Blair Bequest, p. 120, no. 137.
These carved-relief bottles required close cooperation with a high-quality, experienced glassworks. Such close co-operation between private workshops is unusual but standard at the Imperial workshops.
Magpies (xique) symbolize joy or happiness and, depending on the number depicted, convey good wishes for each month of the year, each day of the month, and so on. The prunus appearing on this bottle is apparently of a variety known as "wax plum" due to its translucent, wax-like petals. The combination of wax-plum blossoms and magpies forms a rebus for "happiness up to one's eyebrows."
For two other Guyue xuan bottles enameled with magpies, but without relief, see P. Friedman, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Pamela R. Lessing Friedman Collection, nos. 96 and 97. Another bottle of similar subject is in the Princeton University Art Museum and illustrated by M. C. Hughes, The Blair Bequest, p. 120, no. 137.