A CINNABAR LACQUER 'SCHOLARS AND ATTENDANTS' SNUFF BOTTLE, QING

Carved cinnabar lacquer in high relief on a copper body
China, 18th - 19th 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 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
Hollowing: Standard
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 mouth: 6 mm.
Width of the neck: 17 mm.
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 24th, 2012, lot 101. (for a very similar bottle, dated 1770-1830) The Au Hang Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong 1993, lot 221. (for a related cinnabar lacquer bottle, dated 1800-1900)

清代雕朱漆"文士侍者"鼻烟壺
三道幾乎不可見的小裂紋，有磨損及磕碰，整體品相良好
法國私人收藏