Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles

Transcription

1 F ine Chines e SNUFF BOTTLES

2 AUCTION Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles Friday, June 15 th 2018 at 3 pm CET CATALOG SN0618 Catalog No. 55 IMPRINT Publisher GALERIE ZACKE 1070 WIEN (VIENNA) Mariahilferstraße 112 AUSTRIA Tel (0043-1) Fax office@zacke.at Editor Irene M. Zacke Expert Alexander Zacke Photography Georg Bodenstein Design (graphics) Gregor Zinggl Chinese Translation Zhang Jue Assistance Marion Schorr Norbu Thondup Lukas Zacke Printing Gröbner Druck Oberwart Website Copyright GALERIE ZACKE Reproduction forbidden Errors excepted Front Cover Catalog Nos. 56, 66 and 68 Back Cover Catalog Nos. 32 and 33 Further images of all lots at: VIEWING IN OUR GALLERY June 11 th - June 15 th Monday - Thursday 10 am - 6 pm Friday, June 15 th 10 am - 1 pm and by appointment GALERIE ZACKE MARIAHILFERSTRASSE VIENNA AUSTRIA Tel Fax +20 office@zacke.at 1

3 IMPORTANT INFORMATION (According to the general terms and conditions of business Gallery Zacke Vienna) ABSENTEE BIDDING FORM FOR THE AUCTION FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES SN0618 ON DATE Friday, June 15th 2018 at 3pm CET NO. TITLE BID IN EURO Endangered Species / CITES Information Some items in this catalogue may consist of material such as for example ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, coral or any rare types of tropical wood, and are therefore subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES]. Such items may only be exported outside the European Union after an export permit in accordance with CITES has been granted by the Austrian authorities. Zacke Gallery cannot and does not guarantee that such export permit may or will be obtained, but will by order of the winning bidder, once and exclusively after the item in question has been paid in full, apply to obtain such a permit at a fixed administrative fee of euro 500, - per application. PLEASE RAISE MY PURCHASE BID BY ONE BID STEP (APPROX. 10%) IF NECESSARY TEL PLEASE CALL ME IF THERE IS ALREADY A HIGHER WRITTEN BID Notice: All bids are to be understood plus buyer`s premium (incl. VAT). If you like to bid by telephone please write in the column purchase limit TEL. A bid by telephone shall automatically represent a bid at the starting price for this item. If Galerie Zacke cannot reach the Client during the auction, Galerie Zacke will bid up to the starting price for him. If no one else bids on the corresponding good, then the Client shall automatically receive the winning bid at the starting price. TERMS OF PAYMENT, SHIPPING AND COLLECTION: NAME ADDRESS POSTCODE & CITY With the signature on this form the client declares his consent to aforementioned commissioning of Galerie Zacke. Bids by telephone shall be governed by the AGB (terms and conditions) of Galerie Zacke. The AGB of Galerie Zacke are part of the commissioning of Galerie Zacke by the client. The client agrees with his signature that he has taken note of the AGB (terms and conditions) of Galerie Zacke and that he agrees with them. DATE & SIGNATURE PHONE CASH ON DELIVERY (MAILING) UP TO A VALUE OF 350 ONLY CUSTOMER COLLECTION PAYMENT ON SITE AND IN CASH, BY CHEQUE OR CREDIT CARD INVOICE PAYMENT UPON RECEIPT OF IN- VOICE - SHIPPING UPON RECEIPT OF PAY- MENT DEBIT OF CREDIT CARD PLEASE MARK THE DESIRED CARD WITH A CROSS: AMEX DINERS MASTERCARD VISA NAME CARD NUMBER EXPIRY DATE EXPRESS PARCEL SERVICE REQUIRED Further images of all lots at: TRANSPORT INSURANCE: PLEASE TAKE OUT A TRANSPORT INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE ITEMS I HAVE BOUGHT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS CONCERNING THE "SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT INSURANCE" Galerie Zacke Mariahilferstr. 112, 1070 Vienna office@zacke.at Tel Fax For your information: At its auctions, the Galerie Zacke offers exclusively third-party contributions for sale on commission. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that, in case of any complaints arising from a purchase, these have to be reported to us within 6 weeks after the receipt of the item. 2 3

4 CATALOG 1 AN UNUSUAL MUGHAL-STYLE TRELLIS LAPIS LAZULI SNUFF BOTTLE, MEIPING-FORM The stone with a layer of intense lapis-blue above a second layer of brighter greyish-blue, the second layer with a smooth polish, as well as top and base China, 18 th 19 th century Of traditional form with rounded shoulders above a well-hollowed, tapering body, the elaborate surface pierced and skillfully carved with an ornate trellis composed of a lattice of foliated vines below the shoulders. The carver made a brilliant use of the two differently colored layers in the mineral to create a stunning three-dimensional effect of climbing vines on a mural, a common design during the Mughal era. Shape: Meiping Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck with slanted lip, convex top and very small mouth Base: Plain convex round base Design, marks, school: Mughal-Style Stopper: Pink glass in imitation of tourmaline, carved in the shape of a pagoda-top, on a gilt bronze platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 22 mm. Condition: Excellent Literature comparison: Chinese Art. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, June 1 st, 2017, lot 635. (for a Mughal-Style white jade reticulated vase bearing a similar design) Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,- 4 5

5 3 A LAPIS LAZULI CRANE AND TREE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Lapis lazuli of good, intense color, with carving in high relief and multiple incised details, the surface with smooth polish and a good patina Qing dynasty, Of compressed spade shape rising to a flared neck, surmounted on a concave oval foot, finely carved with a crane resting beneath a pine tree issuing from rockworks below, the lustrous purple-blue stone with few darker grey streaks, the backside suffused with a cloud of metallic-silver specks. Lion mask handles to both shoulders, dramatically carved in high relief. Shape: Flattened spade Hollowing: Good Mouth, neck and lip: Succinct neck with flat top and cylindric mouth Base: Small oval base with raised, flat foot rim Stopper: Coral, old spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.8 cm. Width of the neck: 12 mm. Condition: Excellent, one tiny nibble to lip Provenance: Hungarian private collection Literature comparison: THE PAUL BRAGA COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, Hong Komg, November 24 th, 2012, lot 117. (for another lapis lazuli bottle, showing a crane design), Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 2 A LAPIS LAZULI SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Carved Lapis lazuli with a good patina and smooth polish China, 18 th 19 th century Of bulbous oval form, resting on a shapematching oval base, the cylindric neck rising to a flat top, the stone of a dark blue tone with a few lighter clouds, suffused with metallic-silver specks. The blue in this bottle is unusually intense and among the most gem-like colors known for this mineral. It appears to belong to a large group of plain bottles which may have been made for the Court during the mid- Qing period. Although common in white nephrite, jadeite and crystal, both colorless and brown, occasionally they are found in other materials as well, such as coral and, as in the present bottle, lapis lazuli. Shape: Bulbous oval Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with flat top and small mouth Base: Oval with raised, flat foot rim Stopper: Glass in imitation of coral, carved in the shape of a blossom, resting on a green, slanted platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.1 cm. Width of the neck: 17 mm. Condition: Excellent Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 192. SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY & GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART VII. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 26 th, 2013, lot 45. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 23 rd, 2011, lot 771. (all for related, plain lapis lazuli bottles) Estimate EUR 800,- Starting priceeur 400,- 4 A SMALL PLAIN TURQUOISE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Bright plain turquoise with few crizzled black veining, good oily surface finish, some yellowish patina China, later 19 th century The opaque plain bottle of elegant shape with a sprawling neck and a very, very small mouth. It is believed by some that such miniature bottles were predominantly designed for ladies use during the later 19 th century. Shape: Flattened heart shape Hollowing: Fair to good Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck, slanted lip, flat top, small mouth Base: Oval base with raised flat foot rim Stopper: Matching carved turquoise stopper in the shape of a knob, the mineral a bit darker though Height of the bottle with stopper: 5 cm. Width of the mouth: 4 mm. Width of the neck: 15 mm. Condition: Excellent, with one tiny nick to lip Provenance: Hungarian private collection, Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 6 7

6 5 A TURQUOISE MATRIX PLAYING BUDDHIST LIONS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Turquoise of deep greenish color, with a few brighter areas, marked with some well-figured matrix, some unusual speckling across both faces of the bottle, and some intriguing darker staining, partly due to handling but too well defined to stem purely from patination. China, late 18 th - mid 19 th century Carved in relief to depict two Buddhist lions, one each side, chasing a brocade ball, with some neatly incised detail work completing the amusing scene. The universal gem standard for turquoise is that the more brilliant the sky-blue color the more valuable the stone, but in China it is clear from that both green and blue veined material was equally valued. The evidence lies in snuff bottles in other materials that evoke turquoise. Of the entire turquoise range of Qing glass snuff bottles, many more are of a green tint than a sky-blue one. Porcelain imitations of the material are even more informative. Both the green and blue varieties are regularly copied during the mid-qing period. One of the finest imitation turquoise bottles is published in Kleiner 1990, no It probably dates from the late 18 th century and is of a distinctly green color. In the same publication, a magnificent and unique porcelain bottle made for the Master of the Xie Bamboos, whose hall name appears on other known porcelains of the first half of the 19 th century, simulates a turquoise- matrix bottle with panels of calligraphy in iron-red on white. Not only is the color unambiguously green, it is as riddled with black matrix markings as any of the real material carved into bottles. There are others in enameled Yixing pottery from the first half of the nineteenth century that simulate greenish turquoise (see Stevens 1976, no. 337). Sotheby s, see literature comparison. Shape: Flattened heart form Hollowing: Fair Mouth, neck and lip: Short, sprawling round neck with slanted inner and outer lip, flat top, and cylindric mouth Base: Flat navette-shaped base Stopper: Green jasper of dark and even color Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Excellent, with few natural stress lines Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part VIII. Sotheby s, HONG KONG, May 26 th, 2014, lot (for a bottle of almost identical shape, color and stone structure, but with no depiction) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot 623. (for a bottle of similar shape, yet with a depiction of an archaic bronze vessel, dated to late 18 th century) 6 A CARVED CHILONG THUMBPRINT MALACHITE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Malachite with expressive thumbprint patterns on both sides, coinciding with the shape of the bottle, partially reticulated ed carving in high relief, the mineral of intense green color, with a fine surface polish and patina China, Boldly carved in pear shape, the shoulders with two powerful coiled Chilong depicted in a reticulated manner. Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. Most existing early malachite snuff bottles are uncarved, because the mineral is soft and therefore any high-relief carving is easily worn off and damaged. Shape: Bulbous pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated tapered neck with flat top and small mouth Base: Massive oval base with raised and rounded foot rim, perfectly in line with Chilong s tails Stopper: Carnelian on a black platelet, old spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.3 cm. Width of the mouth: 17 mm. Width of the neck: 7 mm. Condition: Excellent, with some small areas of natural mineral deterioration Provenance: Hungarian private collection Literature comparison: THE PAUL BRAGA COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2012, lot 25. (for a related bottle) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot (for a plain thumbprint malachite snuff bottle) Moss, Graham & Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol.3, Stones other than Jade and Quartz, Hong Kong, 1998, pp , no.417. Denis S. K. Low, More Treasures from The Sanctum of Enlightened Respect, Hong Kong, 2002, p.272, pl.251. (both for plain malachite snuff bottles) Hugh Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, p.91, pl.118. (for a high-relief malachite snuff bottle), Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 8 9

7 7 AN AGATE PEANUT AND JUJUBE SNUFF BOTTLE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL, QING DYNASTY Agate, the body with multiple bands varying from light grey to deep honey-brown, with an ochre layer on top, smooth surface polish China, 18 th 19 th century Naturalistically carved in the form of a Jujube fruit with neatly incised veins, the opaque skin skillfully worked to form two sculptural peanuts in high relief. The artist has ingeniously accommodated the material by using the slightly translucent, darker section of the agate to form the body of the bottle as a single large Jujube and the fully opaque, brighter section to carve the two peanuts, shown still inside their shells. One side is sculpturally more dynamic than the other and appears to have been conceived as the main side. This is confirmed by the placing of the peanuts, both of which can be seen only from one side. This is one of the more realistic and simpler carvings of the group, with full focus being on detailed and expressive depiction of fruit and nuts. The three basic colors of the material, the lines of the jujube and the three-dimensional relief combine to make a minimalist statement, to some extent independent of its purely representational content. The successful combination of material and subject matter demonstrates why this type of agate was used extensively for such Peanut bottles as well as for a series of quite popular small pendants with the almost identical decoration that appear to come from the same workshop. There is a unique nephrite bottle from the Edward Chow Collection (Robert Hall 1995, no. 8, pp ) that is also decorated in relief with Jujubes and peanuts. The bottle itself is left plain and follows the pebble shape of the material rather than being grooved to represent a Jujube, and the style of carving the peanuts is different, but the bottle clearly demonstrates that this was at some point also a courtly subject. Shape: Sculptural Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to depiction Base: Flattened oval, with a convex circle in the center, bottle does stand Design, marks, school: Official school Stopper: Jadeite with metal mounting, carved in the shape of peaches and tendrils, good old carved spoon, double-sided Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.5 cm. Condition: Excellent, minor nibbling to mouth, one chip to stopper Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 28. Asian Art. Sotheby s, New York, September 19 th, 2015, lot 909. Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from The J&J Collection, Part IV. Christies, New York, March 22 nd, 2007, lot 85. (all for similar peanut agate bottles), Estimate EUR EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,- 8 A PEBBLE-FORM FLAG-DRAPED BANDED AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Agate, with bands and clouds of cinnabar red, dark-brown, amber and blueish-grey, and a good shiny surface polish China, late 18 th 19 th century The natural appearance of the mineral well used to depict a draped flag on the front side. Remarkably well hollowed. Shape: Natural pebble Mouth, neck and lip: Flattened lip and convex mouth Base: Flat oval, bottle does stand Stopper: Coral cabochon with old bronze mounting, well carved old spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 4.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Condition: Excellent, with some natural stress lines in the mineral Provenance: UK private collection Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part X. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, June 1 st, 2015, lot 14. (for a jasper bottle with a comparable flagdraping), Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 9 A SMALL PLAIN CARNELIAN SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Plain carnelian of deep orange, almost amber-like color, good oily surface finish, with few cinnabar-colored speckles and bands China, 19 th century The translucent plain bottle of traditional shape with a cylindric neck and a very small mouth. It is believed by some that such miniature bottles were predominantly designed for ladies use during the later 19 th century. Shape: Flattened oval shape Hollowing: Good Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck, slanted inner and outer lip, flat top, small mouth Base: Oval flat base Stopper: Green glass cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 5 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 13 mm. Condition: Perfect Provenance: Hungarian private collection Literature comparison: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION, Part I. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 28 th, 2010, lot 84. (for another miniature carnelian snuff bottle, carved with coiled Qilong) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,

8 11 A THUMBPRINT AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Agate with a smooth polish China, The stone with tones of garnet, caramel, white and grey, each side bearing an attractive pattern of concentric rings, resembling thumbprint patterns in various shapes partially ally in coincidence with the contour of the bottle. 10 Nr. 230 AN UNUSUAL, POSSIBLY IMPERIAL BANDED AGATE CHILONG SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY, Banded agate carved in high relief, with a fire gilt bronze snuff dispenser, inlaid with three ruby red hardstone cabochons China, Carved in the form of a furious dragon head, with some facial features such as nostrils and eyes in high relief, and elegantly curved horns and eyebrows, the concentric rings in the stone enforcing the dominant character of the legendary creature. From the mouth emerges a second, much smaller Chilong, again cleverly highlighted by the carver using brighter layers in the stone. The snuff dispenser is most likely to be of Chinese origin. Especially the manner, in which the hardstone cabochons have been mounted, the massive fire-gilding and the nuancing of the circle-shaped fire-gilt platelets point to an imperial commission. For an imperial agate double bottle with similarly unusual fire-gilt bronze stoppers, showing related cabochon mountings and designs of the circle-shaped fire-gilt platelets, see The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, The National Palace Museum of Taipeh, Hou Yi-Li, Section III, lot 30. Shape: Bulbous pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: The mouth succinct to the body Base: None Design, marks, school: Possibly imperial Stopper: Mechanical rotating snuff portion dispenser in perfect working condition, can be unscrewed to fill-up the bottle with snuff Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Condition: Two chips at the mouth, some minor stress lines inside the stone, wear, otherwise very good condition Provenance: Austrian private collection Shape: Compressed ovoid shape Mouth, neck and lip: Slightly tapered neck with flat top and small mouth Base: Oval with succinct cinct foot rim, the inner carved with a deeply incised lining Stopper: White jadeite with a splash of emerald green, old spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the neck: 15 mm. Condition: Excellent, some minuscule, almost invisible nibbling to lip Provenance: Sotheby s ysnew York, March 22, Property from the Estate of Gerard L. Cafesjian, Naples, Florida, USA. (the spoon bearing old collector number 170 ) Literature comparison: on: CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR S STUDIO. Bonhams, New York, March 17 th, 2014, lot CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE COLLECTION OF BARBARA AND MARVIN DICKER. Bonhams, New York, March 16 th, 2015, lot (for two other thumbprint agate bottles), L Gerard d L. Cafesjian 170 Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,- Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, NEW YORK, March 19 th, 2013, lot 387. (for a bottle from the same material but depicting a deer) The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, The National Palace Museum of Taipeh, Hou Yi-Li, Section III, lot 30. (for an imperial agate double bottle with similarly unusual fire-gilt bronze stoppers, showing related cabochon mountings and designs of the circle-shaped fire-gilt platelets) Snuff Bottles from China, the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Bamboo Publishing, London 1990, pages , lot 4. (for another banded agate bottle, carved with vegetables) THE J & J COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES, PART III. Christies, New York, March 29 th, 2006, lot 71. (for another banded agate snuff bottle, with a base encircled by a band of formalized lotus petals, the shoulders carved with animal mask and ring handles, attributed to the Beijing palace Workshops) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot 527. (for a banded or striated agate bottle, but with a lotus design) Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica or Quartz Group, Hugh M. Moss, Bibelot, 1971, lot 21. (for an uncarved agate bottle with a similar setting of concentric bands of varied white and grey coloring ) Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

9 12 A PEBBLE-FORM THUMBPRINT AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Banded agate of natural pebble form with a good and smooth surface polish China, The greyish stone suffused with tight concentric rings in beige, various shades of grey and white, suggesting swirling clouds, lightly interspersed with tiny grey speckles on both shoulders. Pebble-form bottles in this material are relatively rare. The Chinese called this type of agate entwining-cocoon agate, referring to silk cocoons. For further discussion please see Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, no Shape: Pebble Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to pebble Base: Flat oval, of somewhat irregular shape Stopper: Coral cabochon carved and incised to depict the head of a crane, with old chiseled bronze mounting Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.1 cm. Width of the mouth: 6 mm. Condition: Good, with some wear and several natural stress lines, almost not visible Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Chinese Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 23 rd, 2004, lot 74. (for a very similar bottle) The Bentley Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Asian Art Studio, Clare Chu, 2008, page 87. (for a bottle of the same material, but not in pebble shape) The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Snuff Bottles from China, London, 1992, plate 58, lot 4. (for another bottle from this group, in pebble shape, carved in the form of a fruit) The Pamela Lessing Freidman Collection, Denver Art Museum, 1990, lot 39. (for another bottle from this group, not in pebble shape, carved with mock ring handles on the shoulders) 1930 Estimate EUR EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 13 A FLOATING BANDED AGATE CHICKEN CUP HOMAGE SNUFF BOTTLE, Dendritic agate of light sand-color with bands of white, grey, blue and dark-brown. Sprinkles of dark-brown and black. Good hand-polished finish. China, This bottle does not show any carving whatsoever, as the one and only purpose of this miniature masterpiece was to use the natural appearance of the mineral as a homage to the universally admired chicken cup design originating in the Chenghua period. The chicken cup design is not only celebrated as one of the finest and rarest specimens of Chinese ceramics its materials, potting, painting and firing being of the highest quality but it also is testimony to Chinese connoisseurship over the centuries and as such is a historical document that illustrates an aspect of China s culture. Praised and desired by Ming ( ) and Qing ( ) emperors and other discerning literati collectors, chicken cups have acquired a legendary aura that goes well beyond their immediate arthistorical importance. Shape: Slightly bulbous round shape Hollowing: Outstanding Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck, the base of neck slightly domed, the mouth almost cylindric and of average proportions, slanted lip Base: Flat, slightly curved oval Stopper: Green glass Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.4 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 19 mm. Condition: Excellent, with some calcification near the base of neck Provenance: Austrian private collection Literature comparison: The Meiyintang Chicken Cup. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, April 8th, 2014, lot , Estimate EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,

10 14 A CARVED AMETHYST AND BROWN CRYSTAL BUDDHIST LION SNUFF BOTTLE Crystal (amethyst and brown crystal) of intense purple color with a brownish tone and some dark-brown streaks at the lion s ball, fully figural carving and good surface polish China, Fully figural amethyst bottles are rare and have in past been described as possibly imperial in some expert comments. This bottle is well hollowed and carved in the form of a Buddhist lion holding a ball, with detailed features such as the bushy tail, the somewhat archaic nostrils, the salient round eyes and curvy brows, and the four short yet sweeping paws. Among the forms taken from living creatures, the Buddhist lion was one of the more popular, not just in snuff bottles, but in the culture as a whole, having been the protector of dharma found in religious art as early as 208 BC. It was a common motif on early bronzes and ceramics and survived into the post-archaic period both in the form of independent sculptures and as decorative motifs on a wide range of arts and materials such as porcelain, jade and wood. It may also have been popular as a snuff-bottle design because from the group of symbolically powerful creatures it was amongst the most suited to the basic shape requirements of a snuff bottle. The Buddhist version of the Lion was originally introduced in Han China and was gradually incorporated as a guardian of the Chinese Imperial dharm. Lions seemed appropriately regal beasts to guard the emperor s gates and have been used as such since. There are various styles of guardian lions reflecting influences from different time periods, imperial dynasties, and regions of China. These styles vary in their artistic detail and adornment as well as in the depiction of the lions from fierce to serene. Over the centuries the widely popular concept subsequently spread to many other parts of Asia. Shape: Figural Hollowing: Good Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to depiction, slanted lip Base: None Design, marks, school: Possibly imperial Stopper: Matching amethyst stopper Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.5 cm. Condition: Excellent, two old collection labels to bottom Literature comparison: Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 2, Part 1, Hong Kong, 2007, nos. 243 and 247. (for two other figural amethyst bottles) BLOCH COLLECTION. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 23 rd, 2010, lot 34. Important Chinese Art, PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF ROBERT AND MAURINE MUNT. Sotheby s, New York, September 13 th, 2016, lot 235. (for two figural amethyst cicada bottles) FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 28 th, 2011, lot 13. (for a figural gourd amethyst bottle) 15 A FIGURAL LIU HAI AND TOAD AMETHYST SNUFF BOTTLE Amethyst, the colors of the transparent crystal varying from deep purple to almost transparent white China, late 18 th 19 th century Carved to depict a smiling Liu Hai, accompanied by the three-legged toad, and carrying his string of cash over his shoulders. Skillfully executed with a good amount of character and spirit, this bottle is among the finest and most amusing figural carvings this author has ever seen. Details are neatly incised or carved in high relief, partially reticulated. Figural depictions of Liu Hai in Chinese snuff bottles are quite rare. They also exist in porcelain and jade. The story of Liu Hai is frequently told as Liu Hai playing with the Golden Toad. However, there is a hidden meaning here: The Chinese word for toad is chanchu ( ). Sometimes, Chinese will only pronounce the first character chan ( ). In some Chinese dialects, the character chan has a pronunciation n very similar to qian ( ) which means coin. Therefore, a storyteller er reciting Liu Hai playing with the Golden Toad could also be heard by listeners as Liu Hai playing with the gold coins. Shape: Figural Hollowing: Fair Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to depiction, lip slanted Base: Natural Stopper: Pink glass cabochon in imitation of tourmaline Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.7 cm. Condition: One section of the string reattached, one missing; otherwise good condition, maybe with some minuscule nibbles here and there Literature comparison: The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles. Sotheby s, New York, September 14 th, 2010, lot 24 (for a figural porcelain bottle with the same subject) and lot 161 (for a non-figural amethyst bottle with the same subject). CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE COLLECTION OF BARBARA A AND MARVIN DICKER. Bonhams, New York, March 16 th, 2015, lot (for a figural nephrite bottle with the same subject) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,-, Estimate EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,

11 16 A RETICULATED PINK ROSE QUARTZ BIRDS IN TREE SNUFF BOTTLE, LATE QING Rose quartz, sometimes also referred to as pink tourmaline, of light and even pink color and a good level of purity China, late 19 th century Carved in high relief, partially reticulated, with neatly incised details to depict several birds sitting in two trees with extensive foliage, emerging from serrated rock work. The center of one side with a phoenix, the other with a crane. The matching stopper with another bird sitting on top. Shape: Figural Hollowing: Good, especially when compared to other bottles from this group, which often have little to no hollowing Mouth, neck and lip: Very short oval neck with flat top and small mouth, slanted rim Base: Succinct to rock work design, oval, with a broad and flat foot rim, the inside convex Stopper: Matching stopper Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.6 cm. Width of the neck: 19 mm. Condition: Excellent Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, London, November 8 th, 2011, lot 251. (for another rose quartz bottle with a bird motif and of the same period) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 18 A CARVED CRYSTAL BASKETWEAVE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Translucent rock crystal, with several natural inclusions, carved in high relief China, Of compressed ovoid form, carved in circumferential manner and varying levels of relief to simulate a vessel wrapped for protection in a basket weave casing with an overall pattern of interlocking lozenges, the cloudy stone with a few natural brown lines on both sides. Basket weave snuff bottles were apparently a popular mid-qing period imperial form (see discussion under nos. 97 and 98, in Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, vol. 1) although no-doubt also made in private workshops for a broader market. Shape: Compressed ovoid Mouth, neck and lip: Large and short cylindric neck surrounded by a double circle on its lower end, with slated inner and outer lips, flat top and small mouth Base: Small oval and convex base Stopper: Green glass in imitation of jade, on a white platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.3 cm. Width of the neck: 20 mm. Condition: Good condition with minor nibbling Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Chinese Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 23 rd, 2004, lot 86. FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 25 th, 2011, lot 321. (both for similar bottles) 1930 Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 17 AN AMETHYST LINGZHI SNUFF BOTTLE Carved amethyst of with color varying from white crystal to deep amethyst China, early 20 th century Reticulated carving to depict lingzhi in high relief amid foliage, tendrils and rockwork. Shape: Figural Hollowing: Hollowing only in shape of a small cylinder to fit the spoon Mouth, neck and lip: Short oval neck with flat top and small mouth Base: Flat base succinct to depiction Stopper: Matching, with a small bird sitting on top Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 11 mm. Condition: A few chips, otherwise good Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 19 A DENDRITIC ICY CRYSTAL AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Agate with a natural layer of icy crystal, accompanied by bands of cinnabar, dark caramel, honey and light grey, incised and carved in high relief and with a smooth, manual surface polish China, In this unusual piece of quartz, crystal combines with striated and dendritic agate with a wide range of colors, thus becoming a striking combination of various members of the quartz family. There is a longstanding tradition in China of nature reverence. This was transformed by the aesthetic elite into a love of markings or shapes in natural materials that resembled elements of the real, or spirit world. In this example the dynamic natural pattern in the material has been carefully aligned around the bottle so that it can be read as an ice flow melting in the early spring sun, surrounded by snowless areas of earthy terrain. To enhance the depiction, the carver has incised a branch from a blooming cherry tree. Mock ring handles on each shoulder. Shape: Bulbous round shape Mouth, neck and lip: Short and wide cylindric neck, slanted lips, convex polished top, large mouth Base: Large oval base with raised flat foot rim Stopper: Pink glass in imitation of Tourmaline, green platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 22 mm. Condition: Excellent Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Ann & John Hamilton. Sotheby s, New York, March 27 th, 2003, lot 298. Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part X. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, June 1 st, 2015, lot 64. SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION, Part I. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 28 th, Lot 111. Part I. (all for examples of plain bottles carved of dendritic agate) 1930 Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,

12 20 AN ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE Transparent rock crystal, smooth polish to surface and inside (!) of the bottle China, Carved with an impressive hollowing in consummate harmony with a perfectly balanced pear form, raised mock ring handles on the shoulders, with its flawless, otherwise undecorated stone of paper-thin quality encapsulating the essence of purity. Masterly plain crystal bottles from the mid-qing period appear in a number of published collections and always benefit from a perfectly matching stopper and a lovely old spoon of the right length, both of which are present in this lot. The spoon, however, needs a bit more attention in this case, because it is delicately carved of a single (!) piece of organic material, depicting an extended arm with three bracelets and an open hand, designed to pick up the snuff. Shape: Flattened pear Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck, flat top, small cylindric mouth, slanted inner and outer lips Base: Oval, with raised flat foot rim, slanted Stopper: Pink quartz with carved old spoon, on onyx platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.4 cm. Width of the neck: 15 mm. Condition: Excellent, with two tiny, almost invisible nibbles to foot rim, and one smoothened imperfection in the material also on the foot rim, inscribed collector number to top Literature comparison: The Guo an Collection. Sotheby s Hong Kong, 30 October 2000, lot 605. Clare Lawrence, Miniature Masterpieces from the Middle Kingdom: The Monimar Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, London, 1996, pp , p. 41. Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, New York, 1993, Volume I, pp , pls (all for related bottles) Treasures from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect, p.204, no.175, (for a related bottle bearing the hall mark of the Fifth Prince of Ding, Xingyouheng Tang) John Gilmore Ford, Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Edward Choate O Dell Collection, Baltimore, 1982, no. 21. The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles. Sotheby s, New York, September 14 th, 2010, lot 63. (both for crystal bottles fitted with a similar spoon bearing bangles),, Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

13 21 A SOAPSTONE BASKET-WEAVE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY Soapstone carved in relief, the material displaying various shades from white to grey with splashes of cinnabar on one side, and a mottled ochre with some shades of cinnabar on the other, with a good and smooth surface polish Country & Date: China, 18 th century Of compressed ovoid form, carved in circumferential manner and varying levels of relief to simulate a vessel wrapped for protection in a basket weave casing with an overall pattern of interlocking lozenges, the stone with a few natural brown lines on one side. Basket weave snuff bottles were apparently a popular mid-qing period imperial form (see discussion under nos. 97 and 98, in Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, vol. 1) although no-doubt also made in private workshops for a broader market. Shape: Compressed ovoid Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck surrounded by a double circle on its lower end, with a slightly convex polished top and a small mouth Base: Small oval and flat base Stopper: Amethyst on a yellow platelet 22 A BUTTERSCOTCH AGATE SHUANGXI SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Agate of almost even and intense butterscotch color, carved in light relief, with a smooth surface polish China, 19 th century Both sides with relief carving of a shuangxi character, wishing double luck to the married past (and hopefully future) owners of this bottle. Double Happiness is a Chinese traditional ornament design, commonly used as a decoration and symbol of marriage. Outside of China, it is also used in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia. Typically, the character is written in Chinese calligraphy, and frequently appears on traditional decorative items, associated with marriage. The double happiness symbol is also often found all over the wedding ceremony, as well as on gift items given to the bride and groom. Shape: Rectangular shape with rounded shoulders Hollowing: Good Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 19 mm. Condition: Good with hardly visible, minor nibbling lip, some natural stress cracks, one partially with old wax-filling Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part X. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, June 1 st, 2015, lot 39. (for an amber version of the subject) The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part IV. Christies, New York, March 15 th, 2017, lot 333. (for a spinach green jade version of the subject) Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, New York, September 18 th, 2014, lot (for a glass version of the subject) 1930 Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with convex top and small mouth Base: Oval convex base Stopper: Pink tourmaline cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.4 cm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Good, with some wear and minor scratching, minor nibbling Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR S STUDIO. Bonhams, New York, March 17 th, 2014, lot (for a jade bottle with the shuangxi character) 1930 Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 23 A LARGE AND RARE INTEGRAL SNUFF DISH SOAPSTONE SNUFF BOTTLE, 18 th CENTURY Massive soapstone bottle of variegated ochre tone with deeper orange flushes, carved in orange- high relief, with a fine and smooth surface polish China, 18 th century Soapstone (talc, also known as steatite), is among the softest of stones used by Chinese carvers and is workable directly with a metal blade while much harder materials require lapidary work. It was mined in various parts of the empire and was found in a range of often spectacular colors. The most soughtafter stones were those with attractive coloring and with a translucence that revealed inner ner texture, as in the present material. The most precious of all soapstone known as tianhuang (field yellow), from Fujian province, slightly resembles the present material in color and structure. Circular panels framed by a raised border r were a feature of early snuff-bottle production, as known from a Yongzheng-marked turquoise bottle tle from the Susan Ault Collection (Snuff Bottles of the Ch ing Dynasty, p. 59, no. 38). That one can be ascribed to the court, which may also be the source of this one. One side is distinctly concave and deliberately dished. The creation of the dish required substantial additional work by the carver, with no discernible aesthetic advantage. Hence, we may safely assume that the intention of the maker was to provide of a bottle with an integral, functional snuff f dish. In addition, we see confidence and skill exhibited in carving the various details, such as mouth, foot and especially the dramatic mock ring handles to be found on each shoulder. Shape: Rectangular traditional shape with rounded shoulders Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated cylindric c neck with small mouth Base: Oval, with a massive, raised and flattened foot rim Design, marks, school: Possibly imperial Stopper: Pink rose quartz on a green platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 2.4 mm. Condition: Excellent with hardly visible, minor nibbling to inner foot rim an lip Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, Part II. Christies, New York, March 19 th, 2008, lot 278. (for another soapstone bottle, the material of comparable color, but with a higher grade of purity) FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 28 th, 2011, lot 68. (for a glass bottle with an integral snuff dish) The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part IV. Christies, New York, March 15 th, 2017, lot 369. (for a glass bottle with an integral snuff dish) The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society (ICSBS) Journal, Spring 2012, pp (for an interesting article on NEW PERSPECTIVES ON SNUFF BOTTLES WITH INTEGRAL DISHES by Ka Bo Tsang)

14 24 A SHADOW AGATE THREE PLAYFUL MONKEYS SNUFF BOOTLE, QING DYNASTY The stone of a semi-translucent, pale honey tone, with shades of amber tone, and a deep, opaque carneliancolored layer carved to form the depiction, shiny surface polish China, 19 th century The main side skillfully carved to depict three monkeys using a rope to seesaw from the branch of a pine, the tree springing from solid rockwork. According to Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Hong Kong, 1995, Vol. 2, pt. 2, Quartz, p. 346, the monkey was one of the most popular subjects for partly colored hardstone snuff bottles of the Official School. Shape: Flattened spade shape Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck with slanted lip, convex top and small mouth Base: Oval convex base Design, marks, school: Possibly official school Stopper: Serpentine on black platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 17 mm. Condition: Excellent Provenance: Swedish private collection Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14 th, 2016, lot 582. (for another agate bottle with the three playful monkeys subject) ASIAN ART. Bonhams, London, May 12 th, 2014, lot 436. (for a very similar agate bottle, but with monkey on a horse) Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 19 th, 2013, lot 381. (for another agate bottle with the three playful monkeys subject) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 25 A BOY AND FIVE BATS SHADOW AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Honey colored, translucent agate of even tone, with few dark-brown streaks, the main side with an opaque dark-brown layer, smooth surface polish China, The dark-brown layer in the mineral has been masterfully used for a high-relief carving, depicting a boy holding a conch with escaping smoke, surrounded by five flying bats, all with neatly incised detail work. Five bats together represent the Five Blessings (wufu) long life, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death. Shape: Compressed rectangular shape with rounded shoulders Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with convex top and small mouth Base: Oval with raised foot rim Design, marks, school: Official school Stopper: Carnelian cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the neck: 20 mm. Condition: Good, small hardly visible chip to one bat Provenance: Swedish private collection Literature comparison: The Norman Stiller Collection. Fine Asian Art. Bonhams, San Francisco, June 21 st, 2011, lot (for a carved amethyst version of the five bats subject) Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from a Distinguished American Collection. Christies, Hong Kong, October 7 th, 2014, lot 35. (for a painted lacquer version of the five bats subject) Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J&J Collection, Part IV. Christies, New York, March 22 nd, 2007, lot 10. (for a carved serpentine version of the five bats subject) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 26 A JET CHILONG SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY Carved and polished black jet of pure and even structure China, 18 th -19 th century An almost absolutely flat bottle with two masterly carved, coiled Chilong in high relief, one climbing towards the top of each shoulder, their tails together cleverly forming the foot rim. Jet is a tough, compact black form of lignite, or coal, and therefore a fossilized organic material. The color is best described by the fact that it has lent its name to the quality of uncompromised blackness, as in jet-black. It is light in weight and takes a very high surface polish. It is also soft enough to carve directly with a metal blade, bringing it within range of possible materials for the scholar-carver to express his own artistic feelings with his iron-brush. Jet was also an appealing material because of its association with longevity, since one popular Chinese misconception was that it took amber a thousand years to form, and that after a thousand more years amber became jet. Shape: Flat round form Mouth, neck and lip: Short oval sprawling neck, very small cylindric mouth Base: Formed of the two Chilong tails, with a small recessed oval base in its center; possibly original wooden base well carved with a meander border and four Ruyi shaped feet Stopper: Matching jet stopper Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 18 mm. Condition: Very good, with two tiny, nearly invisible chips to one of the Chilong, extremely small nibbling to neck, some natural wear Provenance: French private collection Literature comparison: The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, Part II. Christies, New York, March 19 th, 2008, lot 260. Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 151. (for two other, yet plain jet snuff bottles of the same period) Chinese Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 23 rd, 2004, lot 165. (for a carved jet snuff bottle) Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 7, Part 2, Hong Kong, 2007, no (for another jet bottle with Chilong carved in a quite similar manner, described as possibly imperial, and indicating that the subject of chi dragons [ ] strongly suggests a courtly connection ) Estimate EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,

15 27 A PEAR-SHAPED PLAIN WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Almost pure white jade with tiny russet inclusions, smooth surface polish China, 18 th to 19 th century While plain white jade bottles are quite common, undecorated pear-shaped examples are rather rare. This one does not show a perfectly proportioned form, which is not unusual for earlier bottles. In contrast, the color and the purity of the mineral are absolutely striking. Condition: Excellent Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Interiors. Christie s, London, South Kensington, May 15 th, 2013, lot 835. (for another pear-shape white jade bottle, but with added mock ring handles) THE DR. SYLVAN AND FAITH GOLDER COLLECTION OF FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, Sept 11 th, 2017, lot (for a plain, pear-shaped bottle, but in black and white jade) 28 A WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, CONVERTED FROM A HOOKAH MOUTHPIECE Nephrite of even white color and with a good polish China, Qing Dynasty A carved band is separating the cylindrical bottom from the bulb-shaped upper section. The stopper is carved in the shape of a miniature Yuhuchunping standing on a base, with an inlaid pearl on top, and has been added at some point in time as well as the inlaid bottom plate, which is carved of organic material, to convert the mouthpiece into a snuff bottle. the original purpose of this bottle Base: Inlaid base, carved of organic material Stopper: Carved of mottled nephrite, old spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.2 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 7 mm. Condition: Good, with several tiny stress line in the mineral, and one tiny chip to inner lip Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent; the conversion from a mouthpiece into a snuff bottle must have been taken place before the bottle was acquired by this collector Shape: Pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated neck of oval shape with small mouth and slightly slanted lip Base: Flat oval Stopper: Green glass Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.3 cm. Width of the neck: 15 mm Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,- An Embellished Jade Hookah Mouthpiece sold at Christie s in 2007 A gold and gemstone-inlaid jade hookah mouthpiece of this type with curved tip described as Mughal, c , in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, is illustrated by S. Markel, The World of Jade, Bombay, c. 1992, p. 3, no. 3, where the author notes that Mughal nobles preferred to use their own mouthpiece when smoking from a communal water-pipe. Shape: The bottle still shows the original mouthpiece shape Hollowing: Very well hollowed Mouth, neck and lip: The opening is quite large, owed to Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics, Jades and Works of Art. Christies, New York, September 19 th, 2007, lot 110. (for an original mouthpiece) 1930 ; Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,

16 29 A WHITE JADE CHILONG SNUFF BOTTLE, POSSIBLY PALACE WORKSHOPS, QIANLONG / JIAQING PERIOD White jade of outstanding purity, with exception of one tiny russet vein, which has been masterfully integrated into the carving, good and smooth surface polish China, 18 th earlier 19 th century Carved in low relief with a circumferential depiction of a Chilong chasing a flying bat. This snuff bottle shows a few imperial features that support a tentative attribution to the Palace workshops: It is adequately but not painstakingly hollowed through a wide mouth. It retains its likely original glass stopper of typical Beijing shape. Chilong were particularly popular in court decoration during the Qing dynasty, and especially so during the Qianlong period, and are rarely found as primary decoration outside of Beijing. Shape: Flattened tapering form Hollowing: Good Mouth, neck and lip: Wide mouth, short tapering cylindric neck Base: Oval, convex with flat rim Design, marks, school: Possibly imperial palace workshops Stopper: Carved pink glass in imitation of tourmaline, in typical Beijing shape, on a green organic platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 17 mm. Condition: Excellent, with one smoothened imperfection in the material on the lip (likely original), and some old wear Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent, thence by descent, collector number 3834 inscribed to bottom Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part VI. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, May 27 th, 2013, lot 121 and 196. (for two related white jade bottles, both carved with Chilong) A Collecting Legacy: Fine Chinese Jade Carvings and Works of Art from the Lizzadro Collection, Part II. Christie s, New York, September 19 th, 2013, lot (for another white jade bottle with carved Qilong), 1930, 3834 Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

17 31 A WHITE JADE FINGER CITRON SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Nephrite of pale green-grey, nearly plain white color, with scattered minor russet inclusions and a good, smooth surface polish China, Three-dimensional carving in the form of a Buddha s hand citron, surrounded by leaves and tendrils in high relief and reticulated carving technique. Shape: Finger citron Hollowing: Fair Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to depiction Base: None Stopper: Green serpentine in the shape of a tendril Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Condition: Excellent condition with several natural stress lines in the mineral Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Bonhams, New York, March 19 th, 2013, lot 390. CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTIONS. Bonhams, San Francisco, June 27 th, 2017, lot (both for jade bottles with the same subject) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 30 A WHITE-GREY AND RUSSET GOURD-FORM JADE SNUFF BOTTLE Nephrite of somewhat greyish celadon color with several russet inclusions, carved in high relief, with a smooth and even polish China, The jade pebble is well carved as a lobed gourd borne on a leafy vine and further double gourds with neatly incised details that extends around the sides from the quadrilobed calyx. The russet color in the stone is used to highlight a butterfly on one side. Shape: Pebble Mouth, neck and lip: The mouth is quite small and succinct to the depiction Base: None, bottle does not stand Stopper: Green serpentine in the shape of a tendril Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm. Condition: Excellent Provenance: UK private collection Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I. Sotheby s, New York, September 16 th, 2015, lot 213. (for a similar bottle, carved in white and russet jade) FINE CHINESE WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, San Francisco, June 24 th, 2014, lot (for a similar bottle, carved in celadon jade) Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

18 32 A CELADON AND RUSSET DRAGON AMIDST CLOUDS JADE SNUFF BOTTLE Nephrite of dark-brown and celadon color, carved in high relief, with masterfully incised detail work China, The pebble-form bottle is carved throughout the deep brown colored areas with swirling clouds parting to reveal a sinuous four-clawed dragon carved in the celadon area. The dramatic scene is enhanced by the clever use of intense brown to depict a thunderstorm, with its typical dark condensed clouds, only dominated by a dauntless dragon. The symbolism in this bottle is straightforward and can be read as may you master the future, regardless what comes. Shape: Pebble Mouth, neck and lip: The mouth is quite small and succinct to the depiction Base: None, bottle does not stand Design, marks, school: Master of the Rocks School Stopper: Aventurine glass with a minuscule red knob on top, black platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.2 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Condition: Excellent Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14 th, 2016, lot 438. (for a very similar bottle) The Au Hang Collection of Snuff Bottles, Jihu Jingshe, Hong Kong, 1992, lot 125. (for another interesting version of this subject, also executed in jade) For a comprehensive overview of the Master of the Rocks School, see Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Hong Kong, 1995, Vol. 1, Jade, nos Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

19 33 A FINELY CARVED YELLOWISH-GREEN AND RUSSET JADE IMMORTAL SNUFF BOTTLE Nephrite with a natural russet layer masterfully carved through the yellowish-green ground, in high relief, with a smooth finish China, Skillfully carved with immortal Li Tieguai standing on a rock above a wavy pattern with one hand pointing towards a plume of clouds with a hidden dragon in it, the other hand holding a single lingzhi, the details cleverly highlighted through use of the thick russet skin, the interior well-hollowed. Additional clouds and rockwork are found on the left shoulder and on the almost plain backside. A classic work from the Master of the Rocks School. Shape: Bulbous, rectangular shape with rounded shoulders Mouth, neck and lip: Short and massive cylindric neck, slanted lip with two areas of natural inclusions which have been polished away, flat top and very small, almost minuscule mouth Base: Oval base with large, rounded foot rim Design, marks, school: Master of the Rocks School Stopper: Coral cabochon on faceted black platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.6 cm. Width of the neck: 22 mm. Condition: Excellent Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 19 th, 2013, lot 378. (for another Master of the Rocks jade bottle with the Li Tieguai subject, but without the hidden dragon) The Joe Grimberg Collection, Sotheby s, New York, 14 th, September 2010, lot 187. (for another example of a jade snuff bottle from the Master of the Rocks School) For a comprehensive overview of the Master of the Rocks School, see Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Hong Kong, 1995, Vol. 1, Jade, nos Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

20 34 A BLACK AND WHITE ZHONG KUI JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Nephrite, carved in high relief, with a smooth surface polish China, Qing dynasty The bottle is carved to depict on one side with Zhong Kui escorting his sister to her wedding. The demon queller holds a fan as he walks in front of his sister who is being pushed in a wheeled chair by a demon, while another demon carrying a stack of ribbon-tied books follows behind from the reverse of the bottle which is carved with a raised couplet, zhong shan feng xing, zhu e mo zuo, which may be translated as cultivate all good, create no evil. The clever use of the white markings in the stone to enhance the figural scenes speaks to the mastery of this bottle s maker. The contrast of the seated bride in white against the black wheeled chair is particularly impressive. Zhong Kui is a figure of Chinese mythology. Traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings, and reputedly able to command 80,000 demons, his image is often painted on household gates as a guardian spirit, as well as in places of business where high-value goods are involved. Shape: Bulbous oval shape, the bottle is therefore quite light in weight, especially given its size Mouth, neck and lip: Short, broad cylindric neck, slanted lip, convex top, small cylindric mouth with minor drilling inconstancies Base: Oval, slightly convex base Design, marks, school: While in the past reputed experts have unequivocally attributed this bottle to the Suzhou u school, it is this authors opinion that it could be either from Suzhou school, dating to the 18 th century, or a later example, dating from the 19 th or, unlikelier, the early 20 th century (please see also detailed remarks about comparable bottles in the literature section of this text) Stopper: Pink tourmaline cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 23 mm. Condition: Excellent, with minor wear, some tiny nibbling to exposed areas (only visible under the magnifying glass) and two minute chips Literature comparison: THE BLANCHE B. EXSTEIN COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Christies, New York, March 21 st, 2002, lot 260. (for a comparable bottle, dated to , 0, also with a raised couplet on the backside, the white layers in the stone of a similar, milky appearance) Chinese Art. Sotheby s, New York, March 21 st, 2015, lot 864. (for a comparable black and white jade bottle, dated to the 19 th century) The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles. Sothebys, New York, September 14 th, 2010, lot 70. (for a comparable bottle, not dated) SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION, Part I. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 28 th, 2010, lot 93. (this bottle is particularly interesting to compare: it shows similar drilling inconstancies to the mouth, the design of the base and the shiny surface polish are alike, and the manner in which the surfaces of the rocks have gracefully been left empty is also somewhat related; however, the stark contrast between white and black is key in the Bloch bottle and such contrast was at some point regarded as a must for an unequivocal attribution to the Suzhou school; however, see for example Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III, Denis S. K. Low, lot 63, or Moss, Graham, am, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, no. 24, for bottles firmly attributed to Suzhou, showing similar shady white layers in the black jade with similar softer contrast as in this bottle) Estimate EUR 1.500,- Starting priceeur 750,

21 35 A RUBY-RED OVERLAY WHITE GLASS AUSPICIOUS OBJECTS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Carved and incised transparent ruby red overlay on a transparent snowflake glass body China, 18 th earlier 19 th century Carved through the red overlay to the snowflake ground to depict several auspicious objects such as a threelegged bronze incense burner with smoke emerging from its lid, a bamboo brush holder holding several brushes, a Fang Gu bronze holding lotus plants, a bowl on a stand holding a peach, a pomegranate and a Buddha s hand citrus, two books, two dragons emerging from lingzhi, all with neatly incised details. Shape: Flattened globular form Mouth, neck and lip: The neck with a later metal (possibly silver) mounting under which the glass is still fully intact, very wide mouth Base: Oval base with broad flattened foot rim Stopper: Carved bone with inlay work depicting the Ying Yang symbol Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 11 mm. 36 A PLAIN FACETED RUBY-RED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Plain glass body with only few small bubbles, of flawless ruby-red color, with a remarkably fine and smooth surface polish China, 18 th early 19 th century A crisp little bottle of elegant form and striking color. The ruby glass, the faceting, and to some extent the simple yet efficient design all suggest a palace origin. The simplicity of the form, moreover, could possibly indicate a date from the earlier Qianlong period, long before one begins to see a tendency towards novelty in every aspect of the snuff-bottle arts. Shape: Flat oval Hollowing: Inner form almost absolutely symmetric to outside Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling elongated neck with slanted lip, flat top and large mouth Base: Flat, oval with cut edges Design, marks, school: Likely Imperial glassworks, Beijing Stopper: Aventurine Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.2 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 13 mm. Width of the neck: 19 mm. Condition: Four very minor chips, otherwise perfect; some scratches to stopper Provenance: Austrian private collection Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from China, the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Bamboo Publishing, London 1990, pages (for a comprehensive overview of bottles from this group) Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part X. Sotheby s, HONG KONG, June 1 st 2015, lot 98. (for a bottle from the same group, but with a lotus pond design) The Power of Red. Ruby Red to a lighter Shade of Pale. A Collectors Guide to Qing Dynasty Glass Snuff Bottles of the 18 th -19 th Centuries. J.W.A, International, Christopher Randall. (for a comprehensive overview on ruby-red glass snuff bottles) Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- Condition: Excellent condition with minuscule chip and minor nibbling to lip and mouth Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: The Hildegard Schonfeld Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles. Christies, March 21 st, 2013, lot Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, HONG KONG, November 24th, 2014, lot 39. (for comparable faceted ruby-red glass bottles, but with different shapes) The Power of Red. Ruby Red to a lighter Shade of Pale. A Collectors Guide to Qing Dynasty Glass Snuff Bottles of the 18 th -19 th Centuries. J.W.A, International, Christopher Randall. (for a comprehensive overview on rubyred glass snuff bottles) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 37 A RUBY-RED OVERLAY WHITE GLASS DRAGON AND PHOENIX SNUFF BOTTLE, QIANLONG White snow flake glass, with deeply carved, incised and polished overlay in high relief China, Qianlong period, Finely carved through the layer of dark ruby-red red glass with a continuous design of a flying dragon and a standing fenghuang on a bubble-suffused snowflake ground. There is a group of glass-overlay snuff bottles characterized by unusually deep overlay, simple engraved lines, fully rounded three-dimensional carving, and absolute artistic and technical confidence. Their carving style represents the sculptural epitome of the art, honed to a rare degree of perfection. Many of these bottles seem to be by the same hand, and stylistic links are exhibited across a range of subjects and color combinations. It is believed they represent the height of this art during the Qianlong period, probably from the first two thirds of the reign. The rather milky ground, neither white nor colorless, is a popular one for the group, and the dark red is another regular feature. In many cases the darkness is related to the thickness of the overlay layer, but in this specific case the material retains an unusually deep red even in thinner sections. The dramatic overall impression is emphasized by a rather more matt polish than is usual for glass-overlay bottles. Shape: Flattened round shape Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with slanted lip, wide and deep cylindric mouth with minor drilling inconstancy Base: Oval raised foot in red overlay with rounded rim Design, marks, school: Probably Imperial Glassworks, Beijing Stopper: Carved glass in imitation of coral, depicting a coiled Chilong, metal mounting Height of the bottle with stopper: 7,8 cm. Width of the mouth: 9 mm. Width of the neck: 17 mm. Condition: Perfect condition Literature comparison: IMPORTANT CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE J & J COLLECTION. Christies, New York, March 30 th, 2005, lot 5. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sothebys, New York, March 31 st, 2005, lot 361. Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sothebys, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 178. (for related bottles, all with the dragon and phoenix subject in ruby-red overlay on white glass) The Power of Red. Ruby Red to a lighter Shade of Pale. A Collectors Guide to Qing Dynasty Glass Snuff Bottles of the 18 th -19 th Centuries. J.W.A, International, Christopher Randall. (for a comprehensive overview on ruby-red glass snuff bottles) Estimate EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,

22 38 A SAPPHIRE-BLUE ON MILKY-WHITE OVERLAY KUILONG GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Glass, with incised overlay carved in high relief China, Each side carved through the transparent sapphire blue layer with two dragons, forming the character long (dragon), and a smaller dragon on each narrow side. A band of blue glass is encircling the bottom thus building the foot. Neatly incised lines along the edges of all six dragons as well as eyes, nostrils and horns. This archaistic design is typical of the 18 th century palace workshops. Yang Boda, with his extensive knowledge of the archives and the imperial collection in Beijing, states that archaic forms, decorative motifs and styles were adopted as standards for Qing imperial production from the Kangxi period onwards. They were also embraced with a particular passion by the Qianlong emperor (see Yang Boda 1992). Shape: Flattened globular shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated cylindric neck with flat top and particularly wide mouth Base: Oval raised foot in blue overlay with flattened rim Design, marks, school: Attributed to the Imperial glassworks, Beijing Stopper: Glass, with a red cabochon on a yellow platelet, and a green pearl on top 39 A BLACK OVERLAY SCHOLARS AND ATTENDANTS WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE White opaque glass with carved and incised pure black overlay China, Well carved in rounded relief with a scholar and two attendants standing on rocky ground and inspecting a scroll painting, the reverse with another scholar sitting behind a desk with a large flower pot on it, addressing an attendant, the sides decorated with palm and pine trees springing from daihu rocks. The design in stark contrast to the white ground. The amount and quality of the neatly incised detail work, including but not limited to the faces of the scholars and attendants, can only by judged to its full extent under a strong magnifying glass. It is extremely rare to find a true black overlay glass snuff bottle, as a fine line divides what is a genuine, opaque black, and what is in reality a very dark olive-green or sapphireblue, for instance. The present lot is a good and early example, and only a handful of others are published. Given the intensity of the black, and the confident carving of this rare and inspiring subject, it is well possible that this bottle was made for the Court. Shape: Compressed pear form Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck, slanted lip, flat top and wide mouth Base: Oval base with raised, flattened center, surrounded by a black foot rim Stopper: Gilt metal stopper with embossed and incised Chrysanthemum flower on a black platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: One very tiny nibble to lip, extensive nibbling and chips to overlay Provenance: From an old Austrian private collection acquired before 1930 Literature comparison: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION, Part I. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 28 th, 2010, lot 131. THE DR. SYLVAN AND FAITH GOLDER COLLECTION OF FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, September 11 th, 2017, lot The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, Part II. Christies, New York, March 19 th, 2008, lot 208. (all for variations of the long subject executed in sapphireblue overlay) Treasures from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect, Robert Kleiner, 1999, lot 90 and 91. (lot 90 for a red on opaque white glass version of the same subject, described as probably imperial and dated , lot 91 for an almost identical bottle, also described as probably imperial and dated ) 1930 Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Fair condition with one short hairline, extensive wear and nibbling to foot rim, one tiny chip to lip, and several chips to the depiction, the foot possibly trimmed Provenance: From an old Austrian private collection acquired before 1930 Literature comparison: The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles. Christies, New York, September 19 th, 2007, lot 672. (for another black overlay bottle of similar size and shape, attributed to the Imperial Palace Workshops, Beijing) FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANN & JOHN HAMILTON. Sotheby s, New York, March 27 th, 2003, lot 244. (for a black overlay glass bottle, dated ) FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 26 th, 2014, lot 45. (for a black overlay glass bottle, dated ) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 40 AN EMERALD-GREEN OVERLAY WHITE GLASS LOTUS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Glass, with incised overlay carved in high relief China, 19 th century Finely carved through the emerald green overlay to the opaque milky white glass, showing and circumferential depiction of various lotus plants surrounded by tendrils, leaves and a butterfly with details neatly incised. Shape: Flattened pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated, sprawling neck with flat top and small, cylindric mouth Base: Oval raised foot in green overlay with rounded rim Stopper: Red glass in imitation of coral on yellow platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm. Width of the mouth: 4 mm. Width of the neck: 13 mm. Condition: One flat chip to lip, two tiny chips to overly, minor nibbling an wear, overall good Provenance: From an old Austrian private collection acquired before 1930 Literature comparison: Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles. Christies, London, November 13 th, 2015, lot CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, September 12 th, 2016, lot (for other green on white overlay snuff bottles with a lotus subject) 1930 Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,

23 41 A FINELY CARVED SANDWICHED PINK GLASS LOTUS SNUFF BOTTLE Carved pink and white sandwich glass of decent, noble color China, Depicting an overall design of a lotus flower with several petals emerging from a large lotus leaf, the stem of which curls around to form the foot rim, all carved in high relief and with neatly incised detail to simulate veining. Shape: Flattened ovoid form Mouth, neck and lip: Short, slightly sprawling neck with flat top, the mouth slightly slanted towards the inside Base: Natural base in the shape of a lotus stem Design, marks, school: Probably Imperial Glassworks, Beijing Stopper: Green aventurine glass Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Few small chips restored to perfection, some minor nibbling Literature comparison: Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J&J Collection, Part IV. Christies, New York, March 22 nd 2007, lot 55. (for a similar bottle, with a slightly different lotus design) The Hildegard Schonfeld Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles. Christies, New York, March 21 st 2013, lot (for a similar bottle, with a more formal lotus design) The Bentley Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Asian Art Studio, Clare Chu, 2008, page 26. (for a bottle of the same material and carving technique, yet with a carp design) Treasures from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect, Robert Kleiner, 1999, lot 92. (for a bottle of the same material and carving technique, yet with a cabbage design) Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

24 42 A GLASS JADE-IMITATION DISK-SHAPED SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Glass of even, creamy-white color in imitation of mutton fat jade, the surface polish revealing a similar oily feeling as the real mineral China, 18 th 19 th century Of elegant disk form supported by a short-raised foot, the glass body of an almost pure white color skillfully carved in imitation of a mutton-fat jade bottle, the deliberately somewhat irregularly shaped body adding to this amusing Trompe l oeil. Shape: Flattened disk Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with slanted inner lip, flat top and smaller mouth Base: Flat raised foot with slanted border Stopper: Glass stopper in imitation of amber, carved with similar irregularities as the bottle, possibly matching; good old spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.3 cm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Good, with some wear and minor scratching, the lip with minor nibbling Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Playthings from The Collection of Edward T. Chow. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, May 27 th, 2014, lot 122. (for another glass bottle, in imitation of a jade pebble) FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 27 th, 2012, lot 217. (for another glass bottle, also in imitation of mutton fat jade) 1930 Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 44 A CARAMEL-YELLOW OVERLAY CARP & LOTUS WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Carved translucent caramel-yellow overlay on opaque white glass with very fine incised detail work China, Delicately carved through a semitransparent caramel yellow overlay with a circumferential design of two carps in a lotus pond, the various plants and slender tendrils emerging from a wavy ground surrounding the base. This is a rather rare color combination, with only few comparable examples to be found in the current literature. Shape: Bulbous pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling, elongated cylindric neck, slanted lip, convex top and wide mouth Base: Oval, almost round base with raised and rounded foot rim, carved from the overlay Stopper: Turquoise cabochon on a black platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.1 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Perfect Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Holden Collection. Christies, New York, March 21 st, 2000, lot 68. (for a similar bottle) 43 A THREE-COLOR SPLASHED GREEN SANDWICH GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE The slightly swirled, opaque olivegreen glass body suffused with fragments of transparent emeraldgreen, opaque and dark cinnabar-red as well as opaque realgar-orange splashes, with several scattered airbubbles China, Glass with fragments of other colors rolled into the surface during production were a standard type at the Imperial glassworks at Beijing, which is also frequently referenced to as sandwich type, providing an endless variety of color combinations. This rare and early version, with its three colors on a opaque green ground relates it to a small group of Imperial overlay snuff bottles which also combine this particular green with cinnabar-red, also of the swirling nature of the red here. Shape: Bulbous round form Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindrical neck, slanted lip, flat top with a wide mouth and deep inner cylinder in a somewhat asymmetric place Base: Flat, almost invisible, bottle does hardly stand Design, marks, school: Attributed to Beijing Palace Workshops Stopper: Carnelian cabochon with neatly incised, gilt bronze mounting Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.6 cm. Width of the mouth: 10 mm. Width of the neck: 19 mm. Condition: Some old wear and nibbling to inner lip, otherwise excellent Provenance: Dutch private collection Literature comparison: Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, no (for a carved glass snuff bottle with similar olive-green body, dated ) CHINESE WORKS OF ART. Christies, New York, March 23 rd, 2004, lot 5. (for a similar bottle, dated , attributed to the Beijing Palace Workshops) Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150, Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

25 45 A CARAMEL-BROWN AND GREEN BUDDHIST LION & CARPS OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Carved opaque caramel-brown and light transparent green high-relief overlay glass with extremely fine incised detail work China, Finely carved through the green overlays with a scene of two playful Buddhist lions on a rocky ground, accompanied by two flying bats, the reverse with two carps on a wavy ground, with a large cloud in the upper left, all against a rich caramel-brown ground. Shape: Compressed oval body with slightly sloping shoulders Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck with slanted lip, deep cylindric mouth, flat top Base: Oval base with raised oval rounded foot rim carved of green overlay Stopper: Coral cabochon with a green platelet, a small pearl on top, and a nicely carved spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.2 cm. Width of the mouth: 6 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Perfect Provenance: American private collection Literature comparison: Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles XI, The Snowy Peaks Collection, lot 13. (for a bottle from the same group, but with a carp and crab, dated ) Carl Barron ron Collection on of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I. Christies, ies, New York, September 16 th, 2015, lot 231. for a bottle from the same group, but with a carp in a lotus pond, dated ) THE PAUL BRAGA COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2012, 2, lot 125. (for a similar bottle, dated ) Estimate EUR te EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,- 46 A FIVE-COLOR OVERLAY FISH, DUCK & CRAB GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Transparent, bubble-suffused glass with carved and incised lemon-yellow, light ruby-red, emerald-green, sapphire- blue and black overlay in high relief, nicely polished, with few scattered air bubbles of various sizes China, Carved as a single overlay with a continuous us design of three fish, a crab, a duck (note the red beak) and various lotus plants, all stemming from a large lotus leaf forming the bottom of the bottle. The different colors on multi-colored overlay bottles can vary from two to as many as ten, although between two and five is the norm. Arguably five is the rarest within this norm. With its imaginative and confident design, this bottle ranks among the finest of the genre. Shape: Flattened pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated, very slightly ly sprawling neck, slated lip, slightly convex top, wide cylindric mouth Base: In the shape of a lotus leaf, with neatly incised details Stopper: Ruby-glass on a black platelet, well carved spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 9.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 9 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Perfect condition Provenance: Hungarian private collection Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part X. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, June 1 st, 2015, lot 158. Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part VI. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, May 27 th, 2013, lot 193 and lot 245. Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J&J Collection, Part IV. Christies, New York, March 22 nd, 2007, lot 79. (all for various five-color overlay bottles) Estimate EUR 800,- Starting priceeur 400,

26 47 A YELLOW-OVERLAY PINK CRANES & PINES GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Opaque pink glass with carved and incised lemon-yellow overlay, with some scattered minuscule air bubbles China, The bottle is carved through the yellow overlay to the pink ground, with a continuous scene of pine trees and branches and lingzhi growing from rocks, with a standing crane on one side and a departing crane on the other, with his wings already wide spread. Mock ring handles to the shoulders. Shape: Flattened round shape Mouth, neck & lip: Sprawling neck, slanted inner & outer lip, deep cylindric mouth Base: Oval, with raised and rounded foot rim Stopper: Green glass cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.1 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Two chips to neck restored, several chips to overlay, a few of them restored Provenance: Hungarian private collection Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I. Christies, New York, September 16 th, 2015, lot 297. (for a bottle from the same group, but with a deer and a crane, dated ) THE LINDA RIDDELL HOFFMAN COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, March 22 nd, 2011, lot 84. (for a slightly later bottle from this group, with a blossoming prunus design, dated ) Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles XI, The Snowy Peaks Collection, lot 16. (for a bottle from the same group, but with a deer and bear design, dated ) Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 49 A CINNABAR-RED OVERLAY TURQUOISE-BLUE GLASS CRABS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Carved and neatly incised overlay glass China, late 18 th - 19 th century Delicately carved through the cinnabarred overlay to the opaque turquoise ground with two crabs amidst lotus plants, the base formed as a lotus leaf. The combination of red overlay and turquoise glass became fashionable particularly towards the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. The turquoise-blue background is evocative of the summer sky leading to the typical design of landscape and outdoor scenes. The color combination with the design of the crabs in the present lot is therefore rather unusual. Shape: Flattened pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated cylindric neck with flat top and symmetric mouth Base: Formed as a part of the lotus plant, with round convex center revealing the turquoise ground Design, marks, school: For possible attributions, please see literature comparison Stopper: Glass in imitation of coral on an organic platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.4 cm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Excellent, with one minuscule, almost invisible chip to depiction and two very tiny nibblings to top of neck Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 84. (for an overlay bottle with the same color pattern) FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, London, May 14 th, 2015, lot 301. (for an overlay bottle with the same color pattern, described as probably Imperial ) The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part II. Christies, New York, March 16 th, 2016, lot 512. (for an overlay bottle with the same color pattern, described as YANGZHOU SCHOOL, ) Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles XI, The Snowy Peaks Collection, lot 14. (for an overlay bottle with the same color pattern, dated ) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 48 AN AMBER-COLORED OVERLAY BATS GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE Carved translucent amber-colored overlay on bubble suffused transparent glass in high relief, with some incised details China, Carved through the amber overlay to depict two flying bats surrounded by various clouds, the base girdled by a wavy pattern. Shape: Flattened pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck, with slightly rounded top and small mouth Base: Oval, with raised and rounded foot rim, carved from the overlay Stopper: Coral, with black platelet and small pearl on top Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 50 A TURQUOISE OVERLAY BLACK GLASS PRUNUS AND WILLOW SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Black glass with turquoise-blue overlay, carved in relief with neatly incised detail China, The bottle is carved in high relief through the turquoise-blue overlay to the opaque black ground on one side with a prunus tree, and on the other with a willow tree. The handles on each shoulder are composed of the longevity sign zhou and a bat holding two coins. Shape: Rounded flat rectangular shape Mouth, neck and lip: The neck is emerging from the bottle, with a very thin lip and wide opening Base: Oval base with raised flat foot rim in turquoise-blue overlay Stopper: Glass in imitation of pink tourmaline on a glass platelet in imitation of carnelian Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 12 mm. Condition: Overall good condition with few tiny nibbles to depiction, one to foot rim, the neck possibly with slight trimming Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14 th, 2016, lot 427. (for a black glass bottle of the same shape and with a similar design, but a white overlay) Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Part I). Christies, New York, March 22 nd 23 rd, 2012, lot (for another black glass bottle, bit with yellow overlay) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,

27 51 AN ENAMELLED GLASS COURT LADY SNUFF BOTTLE, YANGZHOU SCHOOL, SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG Opaque white glass with painted polychrome enamels in very thin relief China, ca Delicately painted to depict a court lady in a traditional dress standing in a palace garden, with the entrance to a building in the background, revealing a small stool and a table with a food container and a bowl, the scene surrounded by rockwork and a tree, the backside with a sage and an elevated small table showing a teapot, a teacup and a small bowl. The neck with a neatly painted floral border. The base with an iron red horizontal seal script four-character Qianlong mark and of the period. Shape: Flattened rectangular shape Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with sprawling lip, slanted lip, flat top and cylindric mouth Base: Small oval convex base Design, marks, school: While the majority of the bottles from this group bear the Guyue Xuan hall mark, this is one of the rarer examples bearing a Qianlong mark Stopper: Carved coral cabochon depicting a Chilong in high relief in a bronze mounting, possibly matching Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.6 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Excellent condition, slight wear to enamel painting Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part VII. Sotheby s, HONG KONG, November 26 th, 2013, lot 109. (for another bottle from this group bearing a Qianlong mark) Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, LONDON, May 16 th, 2007, lot 273. (for a bottle from the same group, bearing a Qianlong mark, with the depiction of the immortal Liu Hai) THE COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES OF FRANCA ARENA A.M. Bonham s, Sydney, Mai 3 rd, 2016, lot 17. (for a bottle from the same group, bearing a Qianlong mark, also with the depiction of a noble lady) The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14 th, 2016, lot 572. (for a bottle from the same group, bearing a Qianlong mark, with the depiction of several sages) Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

28 52 AN ENAMELLED GLASS WEIQI PLAYERS SNUFF BOTTLE, YANGZHOU SCHOOL, SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG Opaque white glass with painted polychrome enamels in very thin relief China, ca Delicately painted to depict three Weiqi players under a beautiful willow tree, with the reverse showing a scholar playing the flute, accompanied by his attended on a Guzheng, set in an Edenic garden under a pine tree. The neck with a neatly painted floral border. The base with an iron red horizontal seal script four-character Qianlong mark and of the period. Among the Confucian ideals of the scholar-gentleman were the abilities to write calligraphy and to play weiqi, the subjectmatter seen on the present bottle. Weiqi (or Go) is an abstract strategy board game for two players, in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent. The game was invented in ancient China more than 2,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest board game continuously played today. It was considered one of the four essential arts in antiquity and hence its depiction is frequently found on snuff bottles made of hardstone, glass, organic materials of all kinds, as well as on bottles from the Yangzhou school, although only very few of such examples have yet been recorded. The Guzheng, also known as the Chinese zither, is a Chinese plucked string instrument with a more than 2,500-year history. It has 16 strings, movable bridges and a large, resonant cavity made from Wutong wood. Shape: Flattened spade shape Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck with slanted lip, flat top and cylindric mouth Base: Small oval flat base with slanted rim Design, marks, school: While the majority of the bottles from this group bear the Guyue Xuan hall mark, this is one of the rarer examples bearing a Qianlong mark Stopper: Coral cabochon on a turquoise-colored platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.2 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 18 mm. Condition: Excellent condition, two or three minuscule, almost invisible nibbles to rims. The mark partially faded, but still legible. Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part VII. Sotheby s, HONG KONG, November 26 th, 2013, lot 109. (for another bottle from this group bearing a Qianlong mark) Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, LONDON, May 16 th, 2007, lot 273. (for a bottle from the same group, bearing a Qianlong mark, with the depiction of the immortal Liu Hai) THE COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES OF FRANCA ARENA A.M. Bonham s, Sydney, Mai 3 rd, 2016, lot 17. (for a bottle from the same group, bearing a Qianlong mark, with the depiction of a noble lady) The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14 th, 2016, lot 572. (for a bottle from the same group, bearing a Qianlong mark, with the depiction of several sages) IMPORTANT CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE J & J COLLECTION. Christies, New York, March 30 th, 2005, lot 75. (for a hornbill bottle with Weiqi players) FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 26 th 2014, lot 9. (for an overlay bottle with Weiqi players) Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

29 53 AN ENAMELED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE, MANNER OF YE BENGQI Opaque white glass with delicately painted polychrome enamels China, 20th century This bottle shows a skillfully executed circumferential scene with a scholar crossing a bridge across a river, another scholar and his pupil standing on a rock, a third scholar standing under a pine tree, and finally a scholar with his pupil in a pavilion. The setting consists of a monumental mountain landscape with trees of all kind and a lake with a fisher in a boat. The neck is decorated with a neatly painted leaf border. Although this bottle does not seem to have a lot of age, its quality is of a very high standard, hence an attribution to the Ye Bengqi workshop, the artist s pupils or followers is possible. Shape: Double gourd shape Hollowing: standard Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling cylindric neck, the base of neck curved, the mouth cylindric and of average size Base: Round, with raised foot rim Stopper: Gilt bronze stopper, reticulated depiction of dragon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 6 mm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Excellent condition Provenance: German private collection 54 AN ENAMELED BAXIAN GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE, TLE, 20th CENTURY Opaque white glass with delicately painted polychrome enamels China, 20th century Lovely circumferential depiction of the famous 8 immortals shown in a wavy river. Three of them are riding in a boat, one on a cloud, one on a crab, one on a lotus leaf, one on a carp and one on a wave. The level of detail in this bottle is simply stunning, and barely visible to the naked eye â its close inspection with a magnifying glass is therefore highly recommended. Several neatly painted borders frame the design both on the lower and upper end. Shape: Flattened oval shape Hollowing: standard Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling cylindric neck, the base of neck flat, the mouth cylindric and of larger size Base: Oval, with raised foot rim Stopper: Glass stopper, in imitation of coral Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Excellent condition Provenance: German private collection Estimate EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,- Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

30 55 A MA SHAOXUAN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS PORTRAIT SNUFF BOTTLE OF EMPEROR HONGXIAN, YUAN SHIKAI Glass, China, Painted on one main side with a detailed half-length portrait of Yuan Shikai (16 September June 1916). Publications: This bottle is illustrated in Ma Shaoxuan ( ), Inside- Painted Snuff Bottle Artist, A Biography and Study by Ma Zengshan, Translated and annotated by Ka Bo Tsang, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Baltimore 1997, page 65, fig. 55, and in Emily Byrne Curtis, Reflected Glory in a Bottle, New York, 1980, Chapter Leaders of the Republic, pp , fig. 67, and identified as that of Yuan Shikai (Curtis also illustrates one other portrait bottle of Yuan Shikai in the same publication, figs. 65 and 66). Yuan Shikai (16 September June 1916) was a Chinese emperor, general, statesman and warlord, famous for his influence during the late Qing dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor, his autocratic rule as the first formal President of the Republic of China, and his short-lived attempt to restore monarchy in China, with himself as the Hongxian Emperor. Yuan introduced far-ranging modernizations in law and social areas and organized one of China s first modern armies. But the loyalty Yuan had fostered in the armed forces dissolved after his death, undermining the authority of the central government. Yuan financed his regime through large foreign loans and is criticized for weakening Chinese morale and international prestige, and for allowing the Japanese to gain broad concessions over China. Jonathan Spence, however, notes in his influential survey that Yuan was ambitious, both for his country and for himself, and that even as he subverted the constitution, paradoxically he sought to build on late-qing attempts at reforms and to develop institutions that would bring strong and stable government to China. To gain foreign confidence and end the hated system of extraterritoriality, Yuan strengthened the court system and invited foreign advisers to reform the penal system. Ma Shaoxuan ( ) was one of the most technically accomplished artists of the Beijing school of snuff-bottle painting, which was founded by Zhou Leyuan and included other leading artists, such as Ding Erzhong, Ye Zhongsan and Ziyizi. Ma s famous monochromatic portrait bottles of leading Qing officials and personalities were prized by the influential minority of his day and continue to be among the most coveted of all inside-painted bottles. Executed only in black ink, using vermilion solely for seals, each portrait is a technically impeccable, photographic likeness of the sitter. Ma s renown led to his being commissioned in 1911 to paint two portraits of the young Xuantong emperor. Although the Qing dynasty was on the verge of collapse and political turmoil marked most of this period, Ma s contacts with high officials enhanced his reputation. He also painted portraits of a number of high officials from the late Qing dynasty and the ensuing republic, including Yuan Shikai. The precision of Ma s work in the present portrait bottle represent his finest work from the early 1900s onwards. His genius was in his ability to capture in his miniature portraits a perfect reproduction of the photographs from which he worked, but because they were painted by hand, bringing to them an added vitality missing from the more mechanical photographic process. This bottle is one of a small number of Ma s portraits that have no inscriptions whatsoever. This seems strange, as the bottles look incomplete and one cannot imagine that either Ma or his patrons would have ordered them that way when the standard for which Ma was famous was a painting on one side and a long inscription on the other. It is of course possible that this bottle was ordered without inscriptions, but it may also have remained unfinished. Dealing with the movers and shakers of a dynasty in turmoil during a period of intense political uncertainty must have been difficult at times. Such important and powerful people cannot have been easy to work with, and if their attention was distracted by affairs of state from what was probably a minor indulgence for them, one might expect a few unfinished commissions. Perhaps whoever ordered this bottle provided the photograph but no suitable text for Ma to inscribe on the bottle, and hence it may have been never delivered. As a rule, Ma tended not to use white paint in his portraits, preferring to leave the blank background to act as white, but he occasionally highlighted certain areas with white (see Moss, Graham and Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 4, Inside Painted, lots 606 and 610). On the present bottle, white wash enhances collar, medal and jacket. For a similar treatment of the uniform, see a bottle portrait of General Jiang Yanxing in Moss, Graham and Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 4, Inside Painted, lot 610. Shape: Flattened rectangular shape with rounded shoulders Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with slanted lip and small mouth Base: Oval base with raised and slanted foot rim Stopper: Blue glass stopper Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.6 cm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Good, inner foot with two minuscule hairlines and tiny chip Provenance: The Dr. and Mrs. Louis E. Wolferz Collection, Sotheby s New York, October 3 rd, 1980, lot 121. The Collection of Ann Neviaser, Verona, Wisconsin, USA. (the stopper bearing old collector number 60 ) Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 92. (for another portrait bottle by Ma Shaoxuan, also lacking any inscription) The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, Part II. Christies, New York, March 19 th, 2008, lot 253. (for a portrait of an associate of Yuan Shikai, Zhang Qian) Ann Neviaser 60 Louis E. Wolferz Estimate EUR 1.500,- Starting priceeur 750,

31 56 A CARVED FAMILLE VERTE PORCELAIN HUGONG SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Carved porcelain with enamel painting China, 19 th century, likely The molded porcelain bottle well carved to depict Hu Gong with his staff carrying a gourd on his back, his garment painted with cherry blossoms in a Famille Verte color pattern. Face, hand and feet show fine detail work. The gourd with a pale-yellow glaze. Shape: Figural bottle in the shape of Hu Gong Mouth, neck and lip: The mouth is located on top of the gourd, the short neck with an elevated lip Base: Flat with elevated foot rim Design, marks, school: Jingdezhen kilns Stopper: Coral cabochon with silvered metal mounting Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 10 mm. Condition: One very tiny chip to lip of gourd restored to perfection, otherwise perfect condition; the spoon bent to fit inside the bottle Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary and George Bloch Collection: Part X. Sotheby s, JUNE 1 st, 2015, HONG KONG, lot 5. SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: Part V. Bonhams, MAY 27 th, 2012, HONG KONG, lot 145. Carol Michaelson, The Use of Archaism as a Decorative Motif in Snuff Bottles, Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Winter 2000, p. 16, fig. 50. Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 6, Hong Kong, 2007, no and Chinese Snuff Bottles in the collection of Mary and George Bloch, Robert Kleiner, British Museum Press, London 1995, lot 237, illustrated on the cover of this book. (all for an inscribed, pale-yellow version of this motif) An Addicted Dedication, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Christopher Sin s Collection, Book I, Humphrey K.F. Hui, Hong Kong, lots 253 and 254. (for two bottles of comparable design, yet with the depiction of Li Tieguai) Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 6, Hong Kong, 2007, no (for a Famille Rose version of the subject, described as possibly Jinyu, Jingdezhen, ) 1930 Estimate EUR 800,- Starting priceeur 400,- 57 A MOLDED PORCELAIN BUDDHIST LION AND CUB SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Molded and carved porcelain with multicolor enamel painting in Famille Rose palette China, late 18 th to first half of 19 th century Depiction of a seated Buddhist lion clutching its cub, delicately painted in vivid colors. There is another bottle in this sale, which seems to be almost identical to this one, but may still be from a different mold. The exterior details are almost the same, but measurements between certain points differ by a critical millimeter or two, which they shouldn t if they were from the exact same mold. Also, one is a bit smaller than the other, although it is conceivable that such a variation might be due to the hand fitting of the two halves, to firing temperature and cooling time. If these bottles indeed come from different molds, it indicates how careful the mold makers were to maintain the precise details of a popular model in making a new set of molds. Other versions are known with no enameling at all. They all have at some point been attributed to date from the Jiaqing period and exist in sufficiently large numbers to demonstrate a popular and, possibly, imperial model. Shape: Figural Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to depiction 58 A MOLDED PORCELAIN BUDDHIST LION AND CUB SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Molded and carved porcelain with multicolor enamel painting in Famille Rose palette China, late 18 th to first half of 19 th century Depiction of a seated Buddhist lion clutching its cub, delicately painted in vivid colors. There is another bottle in this sale, which seems to be almost identical to this one, but may still be from a different mold. The exterior details are almost the same, but measurements between certain points differ by a critical millimeter or two, which they shouldn t if they were from the exact same mold. Also, one is a bit smaller than the other, although it is conceivable that such a variation might be due to the hand fitting of the two halves, to firing temperature and cooling time. If these bottles indeed come from different molds, it indicates how careful the mold makers were to maintain the precise details of a popular model in making a new set of molds. Other versions are known with no enameling at all. They all have at some point been attributed to date from the Jiaqing period and exist in sufficiently large numbers to demonstrate a popular and, possibly, imperial model. Shape: Figural Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to depiction Base: Oval convex base with raised foot rim Base: Oval convex base with raised foot rim Design, marks, school: Jingdezehn kilns Stopper: Rose quartz with onyx platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.3 cm. Condition: Excellent, with only minor wear Provenance: Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot (for a reclining version of this bottle, listed among the favorites among the favored ) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot 349. (for an almost identical bottle, dated to the 18 th century, from the Neal Hunter collection) Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 180. (for a nonenameled version of the subject, dated to Jiaqing period) Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles XI, The Snowy Peaks Collection, lot 47. (for a related bottle, but the lion with a ball instead of a cub, dated to Daoguang) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- Design, marks, school: Jingdezehn kilns Stopper: Glass in imitation of turquoise Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Condition: Excellent, with only minor wear Provenance: Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot (for a reclining version of this bottle, listed among the favorites among the favored ) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot 349. (for an almost identical bottle, dated to the 18 th century, from the Neal Hunter collection) Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 180. (for a non-enameled version of the subject, dated to Jiaqing period) Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles XI, The Snowy Peaks Collection, lot 47. (for a related bottle, but the lion with a ball instead of a cub, dated to Daoguang) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,

32 59 A MOLDED DRAGON PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE, DAOGUANG MARK AND PERIOD Molded and carved white porcelain with transparent glaze China, Daoguang four-character base and of the period, One side decorated in high and deep relief with a large scaly dragon in mid-flight pursuing a flaming pearl, worked in high relief above a pierced ground of fiery clouds and more flames. Shape: Slightly bulbous rectangular shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated cylindric neck with symmetrical mouth Base: Raised oval base with flattened, this foot rim Design, marks, school: Jingdezhen kilns Stopper: Agate cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6 cm. Width of the mouth: 6 mm. Width of the neck: 12 mm. Condition: Excellent Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, NEW YORK, March 31 st, 2005, lot 461. script mark incised to the (for another bottle from this group, unmarked, dated , attributed to Chen Guozhi) FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, June 4 th, 2015, lot 8. (for a similar, carved dragon bottle with a Wang Bingrong seal mark, dated to circa ) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lots 63 and 265. (for two further dragon snuff bottle examples, in yellowish-cream glaze and in green-glaze, respectively, both dated to 19 th century) The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection l of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I. Christies, New York, September 16 th, 2015, lot 205. (for a turquoise- glazed version of the subject) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 60 A RETICULATED TURQUOISE-GLAZED DRAGON & PHOENIX PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE Molded and carved porcelain with a reticulated layer in high relief above an inner bottle, which itself is carved with a pattern of vertical parallel lines, the outer layer covered with transparent monochrome turquoise glaze China, Daoguang seal mark and of the period The pierced decoration featuring a dragon and a phoenix chasing after the flaming pearl amidst billowing clouds and above symmetrically aligned waves, all beneath two bands of meander scrolls and ruyi-heads at the neck, the base carved with the four-character seal mark. It is believed that such carved porcelain snuff bottles may have been inspired by their imperial ivory counterparts. Monochrome glazes of varying colors were used to imitate raw materials such as cinnabar lacquer, lapis lazuli and turquoise. However, early examples of ceramic bottles imitating turquoise are dated d to the Qianlong period and are usually subtly enameled with black lines. Although molded porcelain bottles in monochrome colors with dragon and phoenix design were prevalent during the Jiaqing period, Daoguang mark and period examples are rare. The motif of a dragon and a phoenix, symbolizing emperor and empress, presents the happy wish for conjugal bliss longfeng chengxiang. Objects with this image, such as the present bottle, were highly appropriate wedding gifts. Shape: Bulbous ovoid form Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric elongated neck with sprawling, raised and slated lip, the top with remains of gilding, small cylindric mouth Base: Oval glazed base with sharply raised, unglazed foot ot rim Stopper: Coral cabochon on yellow platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.7 cm. Width of the neck: 15 mm. Condition: Perfect Literature comparison: FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, December 3 rd, 2015, lot 23. A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 6, Arts of the Fire, H. Moss, s, V. Graham and K. B. Tsang, Hong Kong, 2008, pp , 463, nos.1206 and The Paul Braga collection, Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2012, lot 39. (all for related bottles) Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

33 61 A FAMILLE ROSE MOLDED PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE Molded and carved porcelain in high relief, painted in vivid Famille Rose enamels China, The body is molded in high relief with a continuous scene of figures in boats, three figures in a sampan on one side and two standing in a skiff on the reverse, the two scenes separated by willow trees growing from rocks, and all against a ground of wind-tossed waves below multi-colored clouds and a band of key fret on the neck. Shape: Bulbous form Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck, wide mouth Base: Flat oval base Design, marks, school: Imperial, Jingdezehn kilns Stopper: Stained organic material with coral color on a green platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 13 mm. Condition: Neck and foot trimmed, extensive wear, one chip and minor nibbling, overall fair condition Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I. Christies, New York, September 16 th, 2015, lot 318. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. Christies, New York, March 24 th, 2011, lot (both for nearly identical bottles) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 63 AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AND FINELY MOLDED HARVEST SEASON FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE Molded and carved porcelain in high relief, with delicately painted enamels China, Qianlong four-character seal script mark painted in iron-red and possibly late in the period ( ) or early 19 th century Bottles from this group and period, with a spade shape and a size of 7.3 cm or larger are considered as rare and hence extremely hard to find in pristine condition. With a continuous scene of boys shown at various forms of farm work, using a number of farming tools and equipment, with a farm building and a river shore in the background, both shoulders with trees springing from elaborate rockwork, the top with an array of multicolored clouds. The depiction overall executed with a sheer incredible love to detail and a salient skill of craft. 62 A RETICULATED WHITE PORCELAIN BA JIXIANG SNUFF BOTTLE Crackled creamy-white glaze on molded and carved porcelain; reticulated, double body, the interior unglazed China, The outer body molded with a continuous design of Eight Buddhist Emblems on a ground of formalized clouds framed between a base band of formalized lingzhi, above a band of raised dots, and a shoulder design of formalized lingzhi beneath a band of continuous leiwen (thunder pattern) with a band of raised dots at the upper-neck; all exterior surfaces of the outer body covered with glaze. The inner body covered with a thin wash of glaze. To make the inner body, a flat sheet of still-malleable porcelain was placed into the half-body mold and pressed into it until it assumed the form. Once both halves were made, the two were joined vertically and bonded with slip. The outer body would then have been made in the same manner, but from two different molds, since the design is not the same on each main side. Again, these were put together at the narrow sides with slip and fixed by hand to the inner body. Once the bottle was leather hard, further detailing and carving would have been undertaken, particularly to remove any trace of the join from the exterior, but also to add the finer details as necessary. Then it remained only to glaze and fire it. It should also be noted that the additional handwork involved in piercing through the upper body often makes it more difficult with this type of bottle to judge whether different exemplars come from the same mold or not. Shape: Flattened round shape Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck with slanted lip and flat, glazed top Base: Oval, concave base surrounded by a convex foot rim Design, marks, school: Probably Imperial, Jingdezhen kilns Stopper: Honey-colored agate Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 19 mm. Condition: Two chips and some nibbling to lip, further nibbling throughout the design, some hairlines, on one shoulder the mold joint line is visible Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 23 rd, 2010, lot 48. (for an almost identical bottle, also illustrated in Treasury 6, no. 1194) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot 26. (for another, almost identical bottle) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- Shape: Bulbous spade shape Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck, with slated lips, gilded top and wide mouth Base: Oval with blue-glazed, raised foot rim, the inner with transparent glaze and bearing the mark Design, marks, school: Probably imperial, Jingdezehn kilns Stopper: Light apple green jadeite cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.5 cm. Height of the bottle without stopper: 7.3 cm. Width of the mouth: 10 mm. Width of the neck: 21 mm. Condition: Excellent condition with only one tiny chip to the face of one boy (well visible in the images), minor wear to gilding of lip, otherwise absolutely perfect Literature comparison: The Blair Bequest. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Princeton University Art Museum. Michael C. Hughes. Baltimore 2002, lots (for a good general overview on molded porcelain bottles, with lots 247 and 248 being the only ones with a size of 7.3 cm or larger and a spade shape) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lots (for another overview of bottles from this group) The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Snuff Bottles from China, London, 1992, plates 114 and 115. (for another overview of bottles from this group) Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, New York, September 19 th, 2013, lot (for a 7.3 cm bottle from this group, described as Imperial ) A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, H. Moss, V. Graham, K. B. Tsang, Vol. 6, Part II, lots 1212, 1213 and (for three 7.3 cm bottles from this group, all described as Imperial and with Jiaqing marks) Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

34 64 A FAMILLE-ROSE PORCELAIN PEACH-FORM SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY Molded and carved porcelain painted in polychrome enamels China, 19 th century Naturalistically formed and carved to depict a peach with its leaves executed in reticulated manner, delicately painted with polychrome enamels. Most likely Jingdezhen. Ceramics were produced in many parts of China, of course, and there were other main centers of production; but most are well-documented and distinctively different in their paste and usually in their range of glazes and enamels, as well. The two raw materials required for the finest porcelain were conveniently located in different deposits near Jingdezhen, which was the reason for its establishment as China s main porcelain metropolis since long before the Qing dynasty. According to Rose Kerr, there were some three hundred kilns operating at Jingdezhen during the Daoguang period, and they produced the vast majority of the high-fired white-paste, fine-quality porcelain we see today. A bottle like the present one, although not typical of the broader range of Jingdezhen wares, is still likely to have been made there. It is surprising that the peach shape does not occur far more often in porcelain snuff bottles. It was popular enough in other materials and is not a difficult form to make in a two-part mold, so given its obvious symbolism of longevity, we might expect far more to have been made than appears to be the case. Shape: Peach Mouth, neck and lip: Small cylindric neck with wide mouth Base: None, but an antique carved wooden base has been added Design, marks, school: Jingdezehn kilns Stopper: Green jadeite, carved in the shape of fruits and leaves, good spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.1 cm. Width of the neck: 9 mm. Condition: Perfect, the stopper with a chip Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part VIII. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, May 26 th, 2014, lot (for an almost identical bottle) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 65 AN ENAMELED FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN MENG HAORAN SNUFF BOTTLE, DAOGUANG Porcelain painted with vivid enamels in slight relief China, Daoguang four-character seal script mark painted in iron-red and of the period ( ) Delicately painted in low relief on one side with Meng Haoran riding his donkey, followed by an attendant carrying a large sprig of blossoming prunus over his right shoulder, the reverse with another attendant, also on his feet, but carrying a parasol, depicted in a rocky landscape with a fence and a tree in the background. Shape: Slightly bulbous rectangular shape with rounded shoulders Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric, slightly sprawling neck with slanted inner and outer lip, smaller mouth Base: Oval base with raised this foot rim, the inner bottom carrying the mark Design, marks, school: Jingdezehn kilns Stopper: Light green jade with splashes of emerald Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.6 cm. Width of the neck: 16 mm. Condition: Excellent condition with one chip to foot rim filled as visibly on the images Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2014, lot 128. Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part VIII. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, May 26 th, 2014, lot FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 28 th, 2011, lot 155. (all for various other Daoguang mark and period Famille Rose bottles) CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, September 12 th, 2016, lot (for another Daoguang mark and period Famille Rose bottle with a similar shape) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,

35 66 A YIXING BLUE-GROUND ENAMELLED LANDSCAPE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Brown stoneware covered with cobalt-blue enamel China, Molded on each of the main sides with a raised circular white panel, delicately enameled with landscape scenes, one with a pagoda surrounded by trees and rocks, the other with a horse under a pine tree, the surrounds of foot and neck covered with blue enamel as well. Shape: Flattened round shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated cylindric neck with slightly slanted lip, flat top exposing the naked brown stoneware, cylindric small mouth Base: Oval base with raised foot rim exposing the naked brown stoneware, the inner of the foot with a delicate turquoise-green glaze Design, marks, school: Yixing Stopper: Red coral with a black platelet Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.2 cm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Some wear to the panels, one tiny chip to neck restored (well visible) Literature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part VIII. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 26 th, 2014, lot THE LINDA RIDDELL HOFFMAN COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, March 22 nd, 2011, lot 145. FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, New York, March 20 th, 2012, lot 126. The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part IV. Christies, New York, March 15 th, 2017 lot 419. The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part I. Christies, New York, September 16 th, 2015 lot 347. (for related Yixing bottles, all with raised circular white panels on blue ground, all dated in the range from 1780 to 1860) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,- 67 AN ENAMELLED PORCELAIN QUAILS AND MAGPIES SNUFF BOTTLE Porcelain painted in fine polychrome enamels with intensive colors, in slight relief China, , Qianlong four-character script mark painted in blue enamels, either late in the period or first half of 19 th century With a circular panel on each side, one depicting two quails on a mossy bank with rock work, chrysanthemums below overhanging millet, the other with a garden scene showing two magpies amongst prunus, chrysanthemums, bamboo and rock work. The shoulders with leafy flowering scrolls. According to Humphrey K.F. Hui, the rebus may be interpreted as To dwell in peace and Double happiness. Shape: Slightly bulbous round shape Mouth, neck and lip: The sprawling neck with a slightly convex, gilt top Base: Oval shape, deeply curved towards the inside, with a thin foot rim Design, marks, school: Attributed to Jingdezhen kilns, possibly imperial ware Stopper: Apple green jade with splashes of emerald Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 15 mm. Condition: Three tiny chips restored to perfection, otherwise excellent condition Estimate EUR 500,- Starting priceeur 250,

36 68 A FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN DOVES SNUFF BOTTLE, IMPERIAL, DAOGUANG MARK & PERIOD Porcelain with fine enamel painting in slight relief China, Daoguang four-character mark in iron-red seal script an of the period, Finely painted with a continuous scene of two pairs of doves amidst orchid plants and bamboo. The present example belongs to a group of finely painted bottles from the Daoguang period which were made in sets for the Court to distribute as gifts. It is decorated with pairs of doves on both sides, although it was not uncommon for some bottles to be painted with doves on one side, and Pekinese dogs on the other. It would appear that the Daoguang Emperor and his consort were fond of doves and small dogs, respectively, so the two subjects were popular on Imperial snuff bottles of the period. According to Geoffrey R. Sayer (Tao Ya or Pottery Refinements, London, n, 1959, p. 123, no. 722), Cheng Miao [the Daoguang Emperor] was fond of pigeons; his exalted concubine was fond of little dogs. That is why many of the dishes of the period have pictures of these two creatures. Paired doves, like other paired creatures, suggest conjugal bliss. As a rule, one of the creatures is light and one dark, presumably to mirror the yin/yang balance. This is certainly one of the more effective and successful decorative designs of the Imperial kilns, with the simplicity of the shapes of the doves set against the grassy Christies, see literature comparison. Shape: Compressed spherical form Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with flat top and symmetric mouth Base: Oval convex base with raised flat foot rim Design, marks, school: Imperial, Jingdezhen Kilns Stopper: Agate with bronze mounting Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 18 mm. Condition: Excellent condition, with a minuscule firing line to foot rim and minor wear Provenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORK Literature comparison: CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM TWO PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTIONS. Bonhams, New York, March 14 th, 2016, lot 6001, from the Marcia J. Howard Collection. (for a similar bottle, yet with Pekinese dogs on the reverse) The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles. Christies, New York, September 19 th, 2007, lot 619. (for an almost identical bottle) The J & J Collection. Christies, New York, March 29 th, 2006, lot 15. (for a bottle with very similar design) Snuff Bottles. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, p. 227, no (for another example decorated with a pair of doves on one side and a pair of Pekinese dogs on the reverse) Stephen Max Kellen Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

37 69 A TRANSPARENT AND PURE HONEY AMBER SNUFF BOTTLE Amber of intense honey-brown color, almost flawless and highly transparent, with only very few inclusions and some scattered crizzling, good patina and outstanding manual surface polish China, 18 th early 19 th century The well-hollowed and therefore extremely light bottle of elegant bulbous-oval shape with cylindric neck and raised, oval foot rim, the slightly crizzled amber of transparent, variegated golden-brown color with scattered darker streaking. The traditional form, combined with the eccentric beauty of the material, distinguishes this bottle as one of the outstanding examples of its type. Much early amber is crizzled, and this trait, like crizzling on glass, is considered a positive factor among collectors, demonstrating the natural effects of time on a delicate material. It is also in excellent, if not unique condition for an early bottle in a material which is extremely vulnerable to the sort of use it would have exposed to, suggesting that early amber bottles must have been in far larger numbers than those surviving would lead to believe. Shape: Bulbous oval Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric, elongated and sprawling neck with flat top and wide mouth Base: Oval with raised and rounded foot rim Stopper: Apple green jadeite, old stained spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm. Width of the mouth: 16 mm. Width of the neck: 8 mm. Condition: Perfect, old collector number inscribed to base of bottle Literature comparison: IMPORTANT CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE J&J COLLECTION. Christies, Hong Kong, April 25 th, 2004, lot 851. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 26 th, 2014, lot 46. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby s, New York, September 17 th,2013, lot 181. The Maxwell Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Robert Hall, London 2013, lot 98 and 99. (all for related plain amber snuff bottles) Also compare three bottles of different shapes formed from similar virtually flawless amber in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991, nos , Estimate EUR 800,- Starting priceeur 400,- 70 A CARVED MOTHER-OF-PEARL NOBLE LADY SNUFF BOTTLE, PROBABLY GUANGZHOU Mother-of-pearl with natural tripartite nodes, good surface polish and elegant, natural luster China, Carved in high relief to depict a noble lady in a traditional dress playing a string instrument, the plain backside displaying the typical grain of the material. Shape: Bulbous oval shape Hollowing: Fairly hollowed Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric elongated neck with wide mouth and flat top Base: Oval raised and convex small base Design, marks, school: Probably Guangzhou school Stopper: Black jade with dark grey streaks Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.3 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 13 mm. Condition: Excellent, some wear Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part II. Christies, New York, March 16 th, 2016, lot 574. (for a mother-of-pearl bottle attributed to the same school) Hugh Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles: From the Collection of the Rt. Hon. The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G., London, 1974, lots 0.53, 0.55 and (for several examples of figural mother-of-pearl bottles) The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Michael C. Hughes, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, 2009, lot 171. (for an interesting, inscribed mother-of-pearl bottle) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 71 A MOTHER-OF-PEARL BUDDHA S HAND SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Craved mother-of-pearl with a nice finish and good patina China, 19 th century Naturalistically carved in the shape of a Buddha s Hand finger citrus accompanied by its leaves. Shape: Natural Hollowing: Good Mouth, neck and lip: Tiny cylindric mouth Base: None, bottle does not stand Stopper: Carved in the shape of a red coral tendril, possibly matching Height of the bottle with stopper: 6 cm. Width of the mouth: mm. Condition: Some abrasions to mother-of-pearl, natural stress lines Literature comparison: Hugh Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles: From the Collection of the Rt. Hon. The Marquess of Exeter, K.C.M.G., London, 1974, lots 0.53, 0.55 and (for several examples of figural mother-of-pearl bottles) Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 72 A MINIATURE ROOT AMBER PEBBLE SNUFF BOTTLE Natural root amber pebble of opaque, dark-brown color, with bright shades of ochre, and a good surface polish China, 19 th century The opaque material left plain on a flat foot, the sides slightly flattened to approximate a triangular section while retaining the curved pebble shape. Pebble-forms in amber are relatively rare and compare well with those in jade. As Schuyler Cammann notes in Miniature Art from Old China, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Montclair Art Museum, p.48, Chinese aesthetes in Old Beijing would ride their rickshaws, holding in one hand a piece of amber and in the other a piece of jade, obviously enjoying the contrasting tactile sensations. Shape: Natural pebble Mouth, neck and lip: Flattened lip and cylindric mouth Base: Flat oval, bottle does stand Stopper: Pink tourmaline cabochon Height of the bottle with stopper: 4.2 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Condition: Excellent, with some natural abrasion Provenance: UK private collection Literature comparison: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION, Part I. Bonhams, Hong Kong, May 28 th, 2010, lot 136. (for an inscribed amber pebble bottle; note the interesting commentary-section of the catalogue entry, lively describing how plain amber pebble bottles such as the present one may later have been embellished with poem inscriptions in the popular literati circles of the nineteenth century), Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,

38 73 A CARVED DEPARTING FOR THE MARKET IVORY SNUFF BOTTLE Ivory, carved and incised in high and deep relief, with remainders of old polychrome painting, good patina Japan, ca, Carved in high relief with a circumferential depiction of two boys passing through a gate with their fully laden mules, one of them additionally carrying two baskets suspended on a vertical rod. In the background we find intricately carved rockwork ork and a pine tree surrounded by clouds. Foot rim, shoulders and neck show various neatly incised borders. This bottle fits into a broader group of mostly larger snuff bottles with considerable depth of carving that generally leaves some elements of the design free standing and most in prominent relief. The carving is usually a virtuoso performance of busy scenes with human figures at various pursuits uits in settings with quite a bit of architectural detail. Most of the bottles are accompanied by matching stoppers, most of which are probably the original ones. It may be that at least some of them were made in the south of China, at Guangzhou, Shanghai, or elsewhere, during the second half of the Qing dynasty for the collectors market. However, closer study of stylistic features suggests that the vast majority were made in Japan between 1854 and about There is one clue that this particular bottle is Japanese, which is the separate neck, fitted to the body after the hollowing had been achieved through an ample hole in the top. Construction tion in sections was a standard Japanese method, greatly facilitating ita the hollowing process. Shape: Bulbous cylindric shape Mouth, neck and lip: Sprawling neck, flat top Base: Oval base with elevated flat foot rim Stopper: Matching ivory stopper carved in the classic Beijing shape Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.8 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 20 mm. Condition: Good condition, with some wear, the base with a few scratches, on nick at the inner lip Provenance: UK private collection Literature comparison: Chinese Art. Sotheby s, Hong Kong, December 2 nd, 2016, lot 881. (for another Japanese ivory bottle) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lots (for a comprehensive overview of ivory snuff bottles of all sorts and periods) Estimate EUR EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,- 74 A TSUDA FAMILY LAC-BURGAUTÉ BUTTERFLY SNUFF BOTTLE Metal with lacquer coating and various inlays Japan, Kyoto, before 1920 In the shape of a formalized butterfly, inlaid with gold and silver foil, abalone shell of various colors, painted in gold lacquer, gold- and silver-lacquer spray, and with some areas of speckling of abalone shell, all on a black lacquer ground, to depict a scholar resting on a river shore, surrounded by trees, mountains, clouds, rockwork, boats and a pagoda, the reverse with flying cranes above a variety of lake shore plants, surrounded by rocks, clouds and a butterfly, one crane carrying a mistletoe in his beak. The narrow sides inlaid with formalized flower heads, the neck and matching stopper with a band of dots of abalone shell, all between bands of silver foil. Lac-Burgauté was developed as an art form mainly between the Song and the late Ming, but was taken up by Japanese artists later; it was also produced for both the Japanese and the Chinese market in the Ryukyu Islands off the east coast of China. The more colorful shell is derived mostly from the abalone (Haliotis family, among which is Haliotis Japonica), also known as seashell ear because of its shape. There are two main groups of butterfly-shaped snuff bottles. The first follows this general shape, with the inlay depicting the real insect, albeit abstracted, with two butterflies, one on each side, each shown with the upper body spread out like a specimen. The second is of butterfly shape, but the decoration is entirely unrelated to the insect, such as is the case with present bottle. The likely evolution is that those with the butterfly form and decoration preceded those with other decoration. A third group came later, perhaps in the period, where the butterfly shape is also embellished with relief decoration of various other materials in the Tsuda style, but without Lac-Burgauté work; this is usually of second-rate quality and by the anonymous lesser workshops producing embellished works. The base with a painted, apocryphal four-character Qianlong mark in seal script. Shape: Butterfly form Mouth, neck and lip: Shorty cylindric neck, with bare metal lip and flat top, large mouth Base: Flat, with a naturalistic double-foot made of elements of the butterfly form Design, marks, school: Tsuda family, Kyoto, Japan, Stopper: Matching stopper Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm. Width of the neck: 10 mm. Condition: Excellent, with only minor wear, old collector labe 106 near base Literature comparison: Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 7, part 2, Hong Kong, 2007, no FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 28 th, 2011, lot 147. (both for a butterfly bottle from the first main group, as a comparison with the present bottle, which is from the second main group) 1920,, 106 Estimate EUR 600,- Starting priceeur 300,

39 75 AN ENAMEL ON COPPER SCHOLARS SNUFF BOTTLE, QIANLONG MARK & PERIOD The Copper body painted with multicolored enamels on white ground China, Qianlong four-character mark painted in blue regular script on the white base and of the period ( ) Painted in pleasant-colored enamels with a conforming spade-shaped d reserve to either of its main sides, framing scholars in a landscape surrounded by pine trees and rocks, against a yellow enameled ground filled with leafy chrysanthemum blossoms to the narrow sides. The neck with two minuscule circumferential borders, the base surrounded by a white lining. Shape: Flattened pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated small and cylindric neck with a very large mouth, the lip sprawling and slanted Base: Raised, broad and flat foot rim, slightly inverted center with white enameling, bearing the mark Design, marks, school: Canton school Stopper: Blue lapis with white and grey streaks, carved with a tiny knob on top Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.7 cm. Width of the mouth: 8 mm. Width of the neck: 11 mm. Condition: Good condition with two small chips to chrysanthemum border restored Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE COLLECTION OF BARBARA AND MARVIN DICKER. Bonhams, New York, March 16 th, 2015, lot (for a similar bottle, also mark and period of Qianlong) The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Snuff Bottles from China, London, 1992, plates 129, lot 1. (for another bottle from this group) 1930 Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting priceeur 500,

40 76 A BLUE CLOISONNE DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Cloisonné enamels on copper body China, The heart-shaped bronze bottle with circumferential cloisonné work depicting two round medallions within a doublecircle, one on each side, both with a five-clawed imperial dragon in chase of the flaming pearl. The shoulders with a leafy chrysanthemum design, surrounded by vines, on a classic deep-blue ground. The neck with a ruyi- and a wave-pattern border. Shape: Heart form Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with distinct, bare lip and flat top Base: Oval, with raised bare bronze foot rim, the inner filled with white enamel Stopper: Green aventurine, carved in the shape of a know Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Excellent, old patina Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent, collector inscription TO to bottom Literature comparison: Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot lots (for an overview on various cloisonné bottles, lot 938 also depicting a dragon), 1930, TO Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 78 AN CLOISONNE STILL LIFE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Cloisonné enamels on copper body China, The heart-shaped bronze bottle with circumferential cloisonné work depicting two round medallions within a doublecircle, one on each side, both with a still life of blooming chrysanthemum and peonies, with their tendrils and leaves, springing from a rock. The shoulders with a leafy chrysanthemum design, surrounded by vines, on an iron-red ground. The neck with a ruyi- and a wave-pattern border. Shape: Heart form Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with distinct, bare lip and flat top Base: Oval, with raised bare bronze foot rim, the inner filled with white enamel Stopper: Red glass in imitation of coral Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Excellent, old patina, two tiny nibbles Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent, thence by descent, collector inscription TO to bottom Literature comparison: Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot lots (for an overview on various cloisonné bottles, lot 938 also depicting a dragon), 1930, TO Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 77 AN IRON-RED CLOISONNE DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Cloisonné enamels on copper body China, The heart-shaped bronze bottle with circumferential cloisonné work depicting two round medallions within a doublecircle, one on each side, both with a five-clawed imperial dragon in full-frontal view and in chase of the flaming pearl. The shoulders with a chrysanthemum design, surrounded by vines, on an ironred ground. The neck with a ruyi- and a wave-pattern border. Shape: Heart form Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with distinct, bare lip and flat top Base: Oval, with raised bare bronze foot rim, the inner flat and in bare bronze Stopper: Emerald green jade cabochon with neatly incised, gilt bronze stopper and bronze spoon Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Excellent, old patina, one tiny nibble Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent Literature comparison: Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lot lots (for an overview on various cloisonné bottles, lot 938 also depicting a dragon), 1930 Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,- 79 AN CLOISONNE MILLE FLEURS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Cloisonné enamels on copper body China, The heart-shaped bronze bottle with circumferential cloisonné work depicting a mille fiori ore mille fleurs design, consisting of a variety of flowers such as peonies, chrysanthemum, and several others, surrounded by their leaves and tendrils. The neck with a ruyi- and two wave-pattern borders. Shape: Heart form Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with distinct, bare lip and flat top Base: Oval, with raised bare bronze foot rim, the inner filled with white enamel Stopper: Red glass in imitation of amber Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 7 mm. Width of the neck: 14 mm. Condition: Excellent, old patina, few tiny old air bubbles Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent, thence by descent, collector inscription TO to bottom Literature comparison: Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 6, part 1, Hong Kong, 2007, no (for a cloisonné bottle with the same subject, dated to ; interestingly, the inner of the base of this bottle is similar to the one presented) FINE CHINESE ART. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 28 th, 2011, lot 28. (for sale of the same bottle), 1930, TO Estimate EUR 300,- Starting priceeur 150,

41 80 AN ENAMEL ON COPPER PLAYFUL BOYS SNUFF BOTTLE, CANTON SCHOOL White enamel on a copper body, painted with polychrome enamels China, 19 th century Delicately painted with three playing boys, playing in a garden, with rocks, palms and pines as well as a wooden fence in the background. The neck with a circumferential meander- and a palm-leaf border. Shape: Flattened pear shape Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated tapered neck with bare copper lip, slanted, flat top and small mouth Base: Oval with raised, bare bronze flat foot rim, the inner in white enamel Design, marks, school: Canton School Stopper: Red glass in imitation of coral Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.9 cm. Width of the mouth: 5 mm. Width of the neck: 13 mm. Condition: Excellent Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent, thence by descent, collector number 3033 inscribed to bottom 1930, 3033 Estimate EUR 200,- Starting priceeur 100,- 81 A CINNABAR LACQUER SCHOLARS AND ATTENDANTS SNUFF BOTTLE, QING Carved cinnabar lacquer in high relief on a copper body China, 18 th - 19 th century The heart-shaped and slightly compressed body rising to a gently flared neck, intricately carved on both sides with a rocky landscape, featuring an old sage with a young attendant and two scholars with a servant, on lozenge and meander grounds, with a stylized chrysanthemum hemum lappets border surrounding the base, and various raised borders at the shoulders and neck, the exposed foot rim and lip revealing the copper interior. Shape: Heart shape Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with flat top, the mouth not exactly centric Base: Oval with raised foot rim Stopper: Amethyst Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.6 cm. Width of the neck: 17 mm. m. Condition: Three tiny, hardly visible chips, some minuscule nibbling, old wear, overall good condition Provenance: French private collection Literature comparison: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum 47, Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong, 2003, p.256, pl.393. (for a carved cinnabar lacquer snuff bottle with a similar design) THE PAUL BRAGA COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonhams, Hong Kong, November 24 th, 2012, lot 101. (for a very similar bottle, dated ) The Au Hang Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong 1993, lot 221. (for a related cinnabar lacquer bottle, dated ) Estimate EUR 400,- Starting priceeur 200,

42 Terms of Auction - 1) The auction shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the rules of procedure of GALLERY ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTR. 112, 1070 VIENNA (hereinafter referred to as the company) as well as in accordance with sections of the Gewerbeordnung [Industrial Code] The auction shall be carried out on commission. The auctioneer shall be entitled to withdraw lots exceptionally, to conduct out the auction deviating from the order of the catalogue numbers and to offer lots jointly. In the event of any dispute concerning a double bid or if the auctioneer has missed a bid, the auctioneer shall be entitled to revoke acceptance of a bid and to continue auctioning off the item. The figures attached to the text shall be the expected last and highest bid in EURO ( ) from the respective expert. As a rule, the bid shall be increased by 10% of the last bid. (See list of the bidding increments). 2) The acceptance of a bid shall be granted to the highest bidder unless a seller s reserve price has been agreed with the consignor. Such a seller s reservation (also referred to as limit) shall be the minimum price limit below which particular lots shall not be sold during the auction. This limit shall be disclosed upon request and may not exceed the lower estimated price. If a limit (seller s reserve price) is not achieved, the bid of the highest bidder shall be accepted subject to reservations only. In this case, the highest bidder shall be bound to its highest bid for a period of 8 (eight) working days. If the highest bid from the highest bidder is not finally accepted within this period of time, its binding commitment to this bid shall expire. In order for the final acceptance of the bid to become effective, it is sufficient to send a corresponding notification to the address named by the highest bidder within the stated period of 8 working days. 3) All items shall be subject to differential taxation. A uniform surcharge of 22% plus the value added tax applicable to the surcharge to the amount of 20% shall be added to the achieved highest bid (final and highest bid). Thus the surcharge shall be 26.4% of the final and highest bid in total. 4) In the event of sales abroad, the value added tax will be repaid if the item is sold to a country which is not a member country of the European Union (third country), the legal requirements are met and the proof of exportation is provided. The value added tax shall not be shown separately on the invoice. 5) The auction buyer must pay the purchase price immediately upon acceptance of the bid (final and highest bid plus 22% surcharge, plus the value added tax applicable to the surcharge to the amount of 20%). However, the company may grant the auction buyer a respite for the payment of the purchase price in whole or in part in individual cases. If a respite is refused, the acceptance of the bid may be revoked and the item may be reoffered. In the event of revocation of the acceptance of the bid, the company shall be entitled to accept the last bid from the underbidder. 6) In the event of respite in whole or in part, the company shall be entitled to charge default interest (12% p.a.) as well as storage charges (2.4% of the final and highest bid per month commenced) after 14 days upon acceptance of the bid. The item purchased at auction shall be handed over exclusively upon full payment of the purchase price including all costs and charges accrued since the acceptance of the bid. 7) The buyer can take acquired items in possession, as far as possible, immediately or after the end of the auction. Items which have been fully paid for shall be handed over in our show rooms in GALLERY ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTR. 112, 1070 VIENNA. If a deferred purchase price is not paid within the set period, the company shall be entitled to auction the item again in order to recoup its claim from the defaulting auction buyer. In this case, the defaulting auction buyer shall be liable to the company for the total loss of commission incurred by the company due to the re-auction as well as for any default interest and storage charges. 8) The company shall be entitled to a lien on all items of the buyer irrespective of whether the buyer bought them within the scope of an auction or in free sale or the company secured ownership of these items otherwise. This lien shall serve to secure all current and future, qualified, limited and unmatured claims to which the company is entitled and which result from all legal transactions concluded with the buyer. 9) The items received for auction will be exhibited and may be viewed prior to the auction. In doing so, the company shall give everyone the opportunity to check the nature and the condition of the exhibited items to the extent deemed possible within the scope of the exhibition. Every bidder shall be deemed to act on its own behalf unless it provides a written confirmation saying that it acts as a representative of a well-known principal. The company may refuse bids; this shall particularly apply if a bidder who is unknown to the company or with whom the company has no business connections yet does not provide security by the beginning of the auction at the latest. However, in principle there shall be no claim to accept a bid. If a bid has been refused, the previous bid shall remain effective. 10) The company s experts evaluate and describe the items received for auction and determine the starting prices unless otherwise stated in the catalogue or expert opinion. The information concerning production technique or material, state of preservation, origin, design and age of an item is based on published or otherwise generally accessible (scientific) findings concluded by the company s experts with the necessary care and accuracy. The company shall warrant to the buyer according to 22 of the AGB (General Terms and Conditions) that properties are correct provided that any possible complaints referring to this are made within four weeks upon their taking into possession. Subsequent complaints shall be excluded in principle. The company shall not be liable for any further information in the catalogue and expert opinion as well. This shall also apply to illustrations in the catalogue. The purpose of these illustrations is to guide the potential buyer during the preview. They shall not be authoritative for the condition or the characteristics of the pictured item. The catalogue and the expert opinions shall only mention defects and damage affecting the artistic or commercial value significantly. Complaints concerning the price shall be excluded upon acceptance of the bid. The company reserves the right to amend catalogue information prior to the auction. These amendments shall be made either by a written notice at the place of auction or orally by the auctioneer immediately prior to offering of the respective item. In this case, the company shall be liable for the amendment only. All items offered may be checked prior to the auction. These items are used. Any claims for damages exceeding the liability named above and resulting from other material defects or other defects of the item shall be excluded. When making the bid, the bidder confirms that it has seen the item prior to the auction and has made sure that the item corresponds to the description. 11) ) If a customer is not able to participate in an auction personally, the company shall accept purchase orders. These orders may be placed in writing, via or fax. In the case of a purchase order placed by phone or orally, the company shall reserve the right to make the performance dependent on a confirmation from the principal communicated in writing, via or fax. Furthermore, the company shall not be liable for the performance of purchase orders. Purchase orders with equal top bid limits will be considered in the order of their receipt. Bids which are only one increment above the starting price shall be exhausted totally. Bids which do not correspond to the increments determined by the company (see bidding increments) in tabular form will be rounded up to the next higher increment. The table of these increments can be sent upon request. In the case of lots auctioned without any limits, bids below the estimated price shall be exhausted totally. The written bid (purchase order) must include the item stating the catalogue number and the offered top bid limit which is quoted as the amount of the acceptance of the bid without buyer s commission and without value added tax. Ambiguities shall be carried by the bidder. A purchase order which has already been placed may only be cancelled if the written withdrawal is received by the company at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the auction. 12) The company may refuse to process a purchase order without explanation until offering or make this dependent on payment of a deposit. In the event of an unsuccessful order, such a deposit will be reimbursed by the company within 5 working days. Processing of purchase orders is free of charge. 13) Every contributor shall in principle be entitled to withdraw the items offered for auction until the start of the auction. Therefore, it is impossible to assume liability or to give warranty for the actual offering. 14) Items paid must be collected within 30 days of payment. Items which have not been collected may be delivered without further communication at a starting price from the recent auction reduced by 50% after 30 days from the respective auction date. Items which have not been collected within 3 (three) working days after the auction or for which the company does not receive any proper shipping instructions stating the type of shipping and the address of dispatch (independent of a possibly placed purchase order) within 3 (three) working days after the auction shall be stored at the owner s risk. Furthermore, the company shall be entitled to store items which have been purchased at auction and paid but not collected at the buyer s risk and expense, including the costs for an insurance, with a forwarding agency. It shall be understood that the provisions concerning the re-auctioning of unpaid and paid but not collected items must also apply to items not exhibited or stored on the premises of the company. The ownership shall be transferred the buyer at the time of handing over the delivery note. 15) In the case of mixed lots with a starting price of less than EUR , the company shall not warrant for the completeness or correctness of the individual items within a mixed lot. 16) A registration for a bid by telephone for one or several items shall automatically represent a bid at the starting price for these items. If the company cannot reach the bidder by telephone, it will bid on behalf of the bidder by phone up to the starting price when the respective auction lot is called. 17) Payments made to the company by mistake (through the payer s fault) (e.g. due to miscalculation of the exchange rate by the payer) or payments made to the company for the same invoice several times shall be compensated in form of a credit note for goods for an indefinite period of time. The repayment of such payments in cash shall be excluded. 18) In the case of individual auction lots, it may happen that they are delivered several times. In such a case, the auctioneer may accept a second or third etc. bid from the underbidder(s). In this case, the text in the catalogue and not the illustration in the catalogue shall also be exclusively binding with regard to the warranty (relating to these auction lots). 19) When making a bid, whether personally, in writing or by telephone, the bidder shall acknowledge these terms of auction, the AGB (General Terms and Conditions) as well as the rules of procedure and the schedule of fees (as amended) of the company. 20) The place of performance of the contract brought about between the company on the one hand and the seller as well as the buyer on the other hand shall be the place of business of the company. The legal relationships and contracts existing between the company, the sellers and the buyers shall be subject to the Austrian substantive law. The company, the sellers and the buyers shall agree to settle all disputes resulting from, concerning and in connection with this contract before the territorially competent court of Vienna. 21) The export of art objects from Austria, when indicated, shall require a permit from the Bundesdenkmalamt [Federal Monuments Office]. In any event, the company shall orally provide information about art objects for which an export permit will probably not be granted at the beginning of the auction. 22) Zacke reserves the right to assign to the customer all rights and obligations resulting from the contractual relationship between Zacke and the contributor by a way of a respective declaration, as well to assign to the contributor all rights and obligations resulting from the contractual relationship between Zacke and the customer by way of a respective declaration, in each case in terms of a complete assignment of contract with the result that the contractual relationship following the submission of the aforementioned declarations by Zacke shall exclusively be between the contributor and the customer, which is in accordance with the basic model of the commission agreement. Customers and contributors shall already now give their explicit consent to this contract assignment. 49 YEARS ZACKE GALLERY HOW TO FIND US ON MARIAHILFERSTRASSE: BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 2-3 minutes from the U3 station ZIEGLERGASSE 3-5 minutes from the U3/U6 station WESTBAHNHOF BY CAR: Best route: take the Gürtel to the Westbahnhof and turn onto Mariahilferstraße; house number 112 is just after the Kaiserstraße. Access is possible by car, with loading and unloading all day as well as short term parking. Multiple garages directly nearby ADDRESS: Mariahilferstr Vienna STAIRCASE 1, 2 nd FLOOR (ELEVATOR) Further images of all lots at: 80

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