LI JUNTING SCHOOL, ATTRIBUTED TO YANGZHOU, 1810-1850

Details

**A BROWN OVERLAY WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
LI JUNTING SCHOOL, ATTRIBUTED TO YANGZHOU, 1810-1850
Of compressed spherical form, the body of white glass with brown glass overlays on both sides, one side carved with a young goatherd seated on the ground, a whip at his side while he tends two goats, a long rope extending from one, as he gazes up at the sky at two butterflies flying overhead, the other side with a fisherman holding his rod and a branch of prunus blossoms, a basket and recently caught carp nearby, a bat overhead and petals strewn about at the man's feet, with overlay inscription in seal script reading Rili gianjin (every day one-thousand [pieces of] gold in profit), glass stopper carved as a coiled chi dragon
2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm.) high

Provenance

Dawson Collection, Channel Islands
Christie's, South Kensington, 10 June 1999, lot 202
Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd.

Exhibited

Christie's, Los Angeles, 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

This is a classic example of the Li Junting School of carving attributable to Yangzhou exhibiting the low-relief style of carving which evolved in the early-nineteenth century under the direction of this master glass-carver (see also lot 30). For a full discussion on the school, see Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 5, Glass, nos. 1020-46.
The symbolism of the fisherman and the carp is alluded to by the inscription. The carp (li) which the fisherman has caught is a homonym for "profit." The auspicious message is enhanced by the inclusion of a prunus blossom (for the ideal gentleman and, alternatively, longevity) and the bat (for happiness).
A brown overlay white glass bottle with similar carving of goats is illustrated by R. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles. The White Wings Collection, p. 112, no. 76.

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