Suzhou, School of Zhiting, 1750-1850Of flattened spade shape, carved in a continuous scene around the bottle, cleverly using the russet, brown and grey inclusions to purposeful effect to depict a lone seated figure apparently in contemplation dwarfed from behind by a large area of 'serrated' rockwork and a pierced Taihu rock with subtly suggested bamboo out-growths, he stares out toward further 'serrated' rocky outcrops and an overhanging wutong branch, the rockwork continuing to the reverse side which is centered by a six-character Daoist poetic inscription in low relief followed by a signature, Jushi, a flat oval base and a waisted neck with a concave mouth with small opening. 2 5/16in (5.9cm) high, stopper,转到 Chinese Works of Art Go
注脚:1750-1850年 蘇州芝亭流派 青玉雕人物詩文圖鼻煙壺This is an exceptionally well carved bottle with a masterful design which manages to convey the appearance of enormous space, with a lone contemplative figure set in a vast landscape, on the confines of this relatively small object. For Suzhou workshop output, the carving is relatively subtle compared to the high-relief decoration more commonly witnessed. The combination of a restful figure in thought on one side and an elegant un-crammed inscription on the other create a calm dynamic that pervades the bottle. The addition of a slightly waisted neck, again an unusual, though not unknown feature of the school, adds grace to the outline. For another Suzhou nephrite bottle in which a similar material of unusually greenish and beige tone is used, see Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 1,Jade pp. 308-309, no. 123. The same subtle gradations of color tone that shift through our bottle, can also be seen on Bloch example, and the authors note that the pale beige-brown material might have occurred near the surface of the pebble with the outer skin entirely removed. More likely it is simply a different plane of color in the core material, not uncommon in nephrite, whether of pebble or mined material. See also ibid., p. 311, no. 124, for another Suzhou bottle with an area of rockwork that favorably compares with that found on one narrow side of our bottle.