Birth of Venus

Birth of Venus

REPUBLIC PERIOD (1912 to 1949)

Chinese Enamel Falangcai 珐琅彩 Copper Snuff Bottle

TOTALLY UNIQUE
THE BIRTH OF VENUS - SANDRO BOTTICELLI

This bottle was one of twelve bottles painted with Renaissance Art that belonged to the previous Japanese owner. Was advised they were painted on commission during the Republic Period 1912 -1949 for a collector. Part of the commission was that no other bottles were to be painted with those subjects. Thus ensuring that the 12 commissioned bottles would be totally unique, one of a kind.

A Masterpiece.

The bottle of flattened circular form.
Painted in exquisite detail continuous around the bottle is a miniature rendition of the Birth of Venus.
In the centre, the goddess Venus, newly born in fully grown state, stands nude in a giant scallop shell. At the left the wind god Zephyrus blows at her, with the wind shown by lines radiating from his mouth. He is in the air, and carries a young female, who is also blowing, but less forcefully. Both have wings.
Their joint efforts are blowing Venus towards the shore, and blowing the hair and clothes of the other figure to the right Pink blossoms floating in the breeze.
At the right a female figure who may be floating slightly above the ground holds out a rich cloak or dress to cover Venus when she reaches the shore, as she is about to do. She is one of the three Horae or Hours, Greek minor goddesses of the seasons and of other divisions of time, and attendants of Venus.
An elaborate collar edged in white above, yellow below, enclosing a white ground decorated with stylised flower and scrolling in light blue.
The base with a blue four character Qianlong Period mark against white .

Formerly the property of a Japanese collector.

The images are far larger than the actual bottle.
By viewing at this magnification, it is only then, one can truly appreciate the miniature details of this outstanding artwork.

Condition: Very good condition. No losses.
There is NO original cap (lost over time). a modern one can be supplied

Refer Large Images for details, quality and condition, they also form the description.

Depending on your computer monitor / phone / etc colour may vary to actual.
Dimensions are maximum measurements
Height about : 5.5 cm
Width about: 4.6 cm
A$3,000

Ref: In over 40 years I have never seen any Falangcai enamel bottles painted with Renaissance Art.
I believe this is the only enamel bottle painted with The Birth of Venus, in existence.

Enamel snuff bottles painted with European scenes were a favourite of the Chinese Court and Chinese collectors in the Qing Period 1644 to 1911.
Snuff bottles were in great demand by western collectors starting in the 19th century and still are.
Snuff bottles with European style artworks were normally based on prints and books transported to China by travellers.
The demand for Chinese art and antiques exploded when the first appropriated artworks taken from the Summer Palace made their way back to England France etc.
Considered by all the major experts such as Bob C. Stevens (the Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles 1976) and the major famous collections, such as Guo'an. Bloch. Meriem. J & J. to name a few. The finest of all snuff bottles are those that are enamelled on copper, brass, glass, gold.
The art of enamelling was introduced to the Chinese Court in the Kangxi era 1654 to 1722, by the Jesuit Guiseppe Castiglione (Lan Shining).