A RED-OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS ‘SANYANG’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850

拍品描述

A RED-OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS ‘SANYANG’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850 China. The flattened globular body rising from a short oval foot to a cylindrical neck with flat lip, carved in relief through the translucent ruby-red layer to the snowflake ground to depict a continuous scene with three goats scattered between bamboo, a pine tree, and rockwork overgrown with lingzhi fungus, all below a full moon shrouded in scrolling clouds. Stopper: Red glass stopper with brass and copper fitting, brass spoon Dimensions: Height including stopper 69 mm. Diameter neck 15 mm and mouth 7 mm. The motif of three rams or goats (sanyang) is a pun referring to the Yi Jing, where solid lines represent the male or yang principal, while broken lines represent the female or yin principal. The hexagram tai which represents spring and new beginnings is comprised of three broken lines above three solid lines. It is considered to be in perfect balance with the three broken lines symbolizing heaven above and the three solid lines symbolizing the earth below. The three rams or sheep, standing in for the three solid lines, form a rebus for the phrase sanyang kaitai, referencing the period between the winter solstice and the New Year, when the warm yang energy is emerging, and the earth is returning to life. Literature comparison: Compare a related red-overlay white glass snuff bottle with three rams, dated middle Qing dynasty, 7 cm tall, illustrated in Jiufang, Li, Chinese Snuff Bottles / Vol. 47, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 2002, p. 34, no. 45. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 6 April 2015, lot 56 Price: HKD 25,000 or approx. EUR 3,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related form, colors, and zoomorphic subject. Note the size (7.8 cm).

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