AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AND FINELY MOLDED 'HARVEST SEASON' FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE

Molded and carved porcelain in high relief, with delicately painted enamels. China, Qianlong four-character seal script mark painted in iron-red and possibly late in the period (1780-1796) or early 19th century

Bottles from this group and period, with a spade shape and a size of 7.3 cm or larger are considered as rare and hence extremely hard to find in pristine condition.

With a continuous scene of boys shown at various forms of farm work, using a number of farming tools and equipment, with a farm building and a river shore in the background, both shoulders with trees springing from elaborate rockwork, the top with an array of multicolored clouds. The depiction overall executed with a sheer incredible love to detail and a salient skill of craft.

Shape: Bulbous spade shape
Hollowing: Standard
Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck, with slated lips, gilded top and wide mouth
Base: Oval with blue-glazed, raised foot rim, the inner with transparent glaze and bearing the mark
Design, marks, school: Probably imperial, Jingdezehn kilns
Stopper: Light apple green jadeite cabochon
Height of the bottle with stopper: 8.5 cm.
Height of the bottle without stopper: 7.3 cm.
Width of the mouth: 10 mm.
Width of the neck: 21 mm.
Condition: Excellent condition with only one tiny chip to the face of one boy (well visible in the images), minor wear to gilding of lip, otherwise absolutely perfect
Provenance: American private collection

Literature comparison: The Blair Bequest. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Princeton University Art Museum. Michael C. Hughes. Baltimore 2002, lots 243-303 (for a good general overview on molded porcelain bottles, with lots 247 and 248 being the only ones with a size of 7.3 cm or larger and a spade shape) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, New York, 1980, lots 271-284. (for another overview of bottles from this group) The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Snuff Bottles from China, London, 1992, plates 114 and 115. (for another overview of bottles from this group) Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, New York, September 19th, 2013, lot 1614. (for a 7.3 cm bottle from this group, described as 'Imperial') A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, H. Moss, V. Graham, K. B. Tsang, Vol. 6, Part II, lots 1212, 1213 and 1214. (for three 7.3 cm bottles from this group, all described as 'Imperial' and with Jiaqing marks)

十八世紀末或十九世紀初粉彩"秋收場景"鼻烟壺
品相極好，衹有小男孩臉部輕微缺損，唇部稍有磨損
美國私人收藏