A FAMILLE ROSE ‘TWELVE ANIMALS OF ZODIAC’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 19TH CENTURY, EX-PALMER COLLECTION

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A FAMILLE ROSE ‘TWELVE ANIMALS OF ZODIAC’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 19TH CENTURY, EX-PALMER COLLECTION China, Jingdezhen kilns. Well potted in elegant Meiping form with a broad shouldered body supported on a flaring foot and rising to a short waisted neck with lipped rim, finely painted in bright enamels of pink, blue, green, brown, black, and yellow to depict the twelve zodiac animals. The dragon soars above the horse, rabbit, goat, and pig, while the ox and tiger emerge from behind a rock formation. The monkey sits atop the rock holding a branch of peaches, beneath which the rooster stands, and the snake and rat are positioned at the base of the rock. Stopper: Coral Dimensions: Height including stopper 85 mm. Diameter neck 11 mm and mouth 5 mm The Chinese zodiac, as an essential part of Chinese culture, started to take shape during the Han Dynasty. This era formalizes a twelve-year cycle, where each year is associated with a specific animal, as part of a timekeeping system. This system, known as the zodiac cycle, combined the twelve Earthly Branches with the ten Heavenly Stems to create a total of a 60-year cycle. Each Earthly Branch was linked to an animal. The twelve animals of the zodiac, in their correct order, are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig; see Ka Bo Tsang, 'The Horse as a Symbol of Excellence,' JICSBS, Autumn 2002, p. 4. Within this iconographic program, individual animals carry additional rebus meanings. The monkey (hou), whose pronunciation is homophonous with ‘marquis’ or ‘high official,’ symbolizes wishes for rank, noble status, and the flourishing of descendants. When shown in association with the horse (ma), the combined imagery forms the auspicious phrase ma shang feng hou (may you swiftly attain high rank), a visual pun traditionally expressing hopes for rapid promotion in official life. The monkey’s association with peaches further evokes the legend of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, who stole the peaches of immortality, thereby adding connotations of longevity to the composition. The presence of the dragon, long the emblem of imperial authority and cosmic power, reinforces the overall message of prosperity, status, and enduring success. Literature comparison: Compare a near identical famille rose porcelain snuff bottle of zodiac animals, dated 1820-1880, 7.8 cm tall, at Christie's Auction 8552: Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Gerry P. Mack Collection: 4 October 1999, London, 1999, p. 10-11, no. 17. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 25 May 2011, lot 120 Price: HKD 60,000 or approx. EUR 9,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related enameling technique. Note the size (7.7 cm), Jiaqing reign mark, and different subject. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 23 November 2010, lot 129 Price: HKD 78,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Note the size (6.5 cm).

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