AN ENAMEL ON WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Attributed to Yangzhou，1780-1850
Of tapering shield shape with flattened sides and a cylindrical, slightly flared neck and an oval foot, decorated in famille rose enamels with a continuous scene of on one main side a pair of long-tailed crested birds perched on a rock surrounded by long grasses and flowers, the reverse with two magpies perched on the branches of a leafy tree beside flowering peonies, the decoration continuing onto the narrow side, the neck encircled with a scrolling floral border, the base with an iron-red four-character Qianlong nianzhi mark in seal script; stopper.
2 3/8in (6cm) high
Footnotes:
1780-1850 料胎粉彩花鳥圖鼻煙壺一件
或爲揚州作

Provenance:
Helen H. Brockdorff, April 2000
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 328

This delicate but finely enameled glass bottle illustrates admirably that high quality enameling was being produced outside the confines of the imperial court and the Yuanmingyuan. Centers of enameling included Yangzhou, Guangzhou and Yunnan, in addition to private workshops in Beijing. The Yangzhou Hua Fang Lu mentions a famous enamel artist named Wang Shixing who worked in the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, and was known as the 'enamel-ware king.'

There is some wear to the enamels and the Qianlong nianzhi mark. There is a smudge of red enamel on the top surface of the mouth rim. The bottle is elegant, and well designed.