AN INSCRIBED WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, MID-QING DYNASTY
China, 1750-1820. Finely carved, the rounded rectangular body supported on a short oval foot and rising to a cylindrical neck. Delicately incised and gilt to each side with a poetic inscription. The smoothly polished, translucent stone of a fine and pure white hue with scattered icy inclusions.


Inscriptions:
To one side, the poem ‘On Seeing the Snow Peak of Zhongnan’ by Zu Yong: ‘See how Zhongnan Mountain soars / With its white top over floating clouds / And a warm sky opening at the snow-line / While the town in the valley grows colder and colder.’
The other side with the poem ‘Lu Zhai’ by Wang Wei (translation by Soame Jenyns, 1944): ‘An empty hill, and no one in sight / But I hear the echo of voices / The slanting sun at evening penetrates the deep woods / And shines reflected on the blue lichens.’


Provenance:
UK trade.

Condition:
Very good condition with only minor wear, light rubbing to the gilding, and minuscule nicks.

Stopper: Tourmaline cabochon
Weight: 88.4 g
Dimensions: Height 68 mm, Diameter neck 19 mm, mouth 3.5 mm


The poems on the present snuff bottle
were composed by two important Tang-dynasty poets who happened to be close childhood friends. Both poems count among the most famous of their respective works. Zu Yong (699-746?) was active during the High Tang period. He attained a jinshi degree in the imperial examination in 724, but left the capital to live a pastoral life, and composed his most famous poems on nature. Wang Wei (699-759) was a Chinese musician, painter, poet, and politician. He is regarded as one of the most famous men of arts and letters of his era. Many of his poems survive and 29 of them are included in the 18th century anthology ‘Three Hundred Tang Poems’. His most appreciated work was inspired by local nature and landscape.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 12 September 2018, lot 721
Price: USD 16,250 or approx.
EUR 18,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An inscribed white jade snuff bottle, 1750-1820
Expert remark: Compare the related color of the jade as well as the incised and gilt inscription on both sides. Note the different form and the size (57 mm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 March 2017, lot 318
Price: USD 40,000 or approx.
EUR 46,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An inscribed white jade snuff bottle, Imperial, Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1770-1799
Expert remark: Compare the related color of the jade as well as the incised and gilt inscription on both sides, which was composed by the Qianlong Emperor. Note the different form and the size (60 mm).




清中期白玉鼻煙壺


中國，1750-1820 年。圓柱形頸，長方圓角，短圈足。兩面都有描金雕刻詩文。表面光滑，白玉細膩瑩潤，有絮狀物。


款識：

終南陰嶺秀，積雪浮雲端。林表明霽色，城中增暮寒。
空山不見人，但聞人語響。返景入深林，復照青苔上。


來源：
英國古玩交易。

品相：
狀況非常好，只有輕微磨損、鎏金輕微摩擦和微小刻痕。

壺蓋：圓形電氣石
重量：88.4 克
尺寸：高 68 毫米, 頸部直徑19 毫米, 壺口直徑3.5 毫米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2018年9月12日，lot 721
價格：USD 16,250（相當於今日
EUR 18,000
）
描述：1750-1820年白玉詩文鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較相近玉石顏色及其兩面刻金銘文。請注意不同的外形和尺寸(57毫米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2017年3月15日，lot 318
價格：USD 40,000（相當於今日
EUR 46,000
）
描述：1770-1799年御製白玉刻描金詩文鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較相近玉石顏色及其兩面刻金乾隆詩文。請注意不同的外形和尺寸(60毫米)。