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Lot Essay
These figures are intended to represent foreign 'barbarians' and are in Central Asian dress. Their hair is long and one has a shaven central pate. They depict the typical foreigner who came to China via the Silk Road from Central Asia. From the Yuan dynasty onwards, there are a number of images of foreigners bringing tributes to China, and during the Ming dynasty, bronze vases (including those used for the game of touhu) and bronze vessels for incense are often supported by two figures of this type. Paintings also show lengthy processions of tribute-bearers bringing all sorts of gifts to the Court, including vases. The symbolism here rests in a pun on the character for 'vase' (ping) which sounds the same as that for 'peace' (ping), and suggests that by accepting their tributory status as lesser nations under the protection of China, they carry peace as an offering to the Court.
There are other snuff bottles known of this general design, although they are very rare. It is likely that this type was made for the Court, as this design is found in a variety of Imperial arts of the time, including cloisonné and bronze. The vase form of this bottle, based on popular meiping ('prunus-blossom vase') form, is also one of the more common Imperial forms for jade snuff bottles. Finally, this bottle is designed to be set on a table or desk rather than carried around - a phenomenon suited to Imperial life at Court, where useful objects were produced in vast numbers so that every room could be fitted to accommodate its role without having to move objects about from one place to another.
A bottle of near identical design was sold at Christie's New York, Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J & J Collection, Part III, 29 March 2006, lot 37.
There are other snuff bottles known of this general design, although they are very rare. It is likely that this type was made for the Court, as this design is found in a variety of Imperial arts of the time, including cloisonné and bronze. The vase form of this bottle, based on popular meiping ('prunus-blossom vase') form, is also one of the more common Imperial forms for jade snuff bottles. Finally, this bottle is designed to be set on a table or desk rather than carried around - a phenomenon suited to Imperial life at Court, where useful objects were produced in vast numbers so that every room could be fitted to accommodate its role without having to move objects about from one place to another.
A bottle of near identical design was sold at Christie's New York, Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J & J Collection, Part III, 29 March 2006, lot 37.