A CLOISONNÉ ‘CRICKET’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY

Massive metal body with silvered foot and neck, the multicolored cloisonnE on ‘imperial’ blue ground with copper wires
China, 18th – earlier 19th century

Each side with a yellow ground square vignette depicting a cricket and cabbage on one side and butterfly and peonies on the reverse, surrounded by neatly executed lotus scrolling, all on an intense blue ground, above a lappet band at the base and below a ruyi band around the collar.
It is impossible to confirm with certainty whether neck and base are original to this bottle or not, but it is this author’s firm opinion that they indeed are, because they fit both the form and the design of the bottle, including the cloisonnE enamels, to absolute perfection.

Shape: Square shape with rounded shoulders
Hollowing: Standard
Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with small mouth
Base: Oval base with raised foot rim
Stopper: Good old mother of pearl stopper with stepped silver mounting
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm.
Width of the mouth: 6 mm.
Width of the neck: 15 mm.
Weight: 83.3 grams
Condition: Superb condition with wear as expected on an old bottle and numerous small air bubbles
Provenance: American private collection

Literature comparison: IMPORTANT CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE J&J COLLECTION. Christies, Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 812. (compare the execution of the lotus with this bottle)

景泰藍白菜蟈蟈鼻烟壺，清代
厚重金屬胎，足部與頸部鍍銀，皇家藍地掐絲多彩琺琅
中國， 十八世紀至十九世紀早期
壺型：方形圓肩
掏膛：規整
壺口、頸與唇部：直筒頸，小口
底足：橢圓底，高圈足
壺蓋：銀嵌貝母
壺高（含壺蓋）：7 厘米
口徑：6 毫米
壺頸寬：15 毫米
重量：83.3 克
品相：不同凡響，年代痕跡，琺琅表面些微小氣泡