Courtyard Scene

A QING PERIOD 1644 to 1911

A MAGNIFICENT COURTYARD SCENE 珐琅彩 FALANGCAI SNUFF BOTTLE

An outstanding bottle of circular form portraying two different courtyard scenes.

Front: Set within a gold bordered cartouche, a fenced courtyard scene.
Two court ladies seated on Chinese stools, at a table playing a game of 圍棋 wéiqí, whilst another stands watching.
On the left and in the distance a lake, a low shoreline, a range of hills.
A rocky crop with pink plum blossoms behind the standing beauty.
On the right wide, leafed plantains growing in front of a roofed red pole pavilion.
Back: Another courtyard scene, set within a gold bordered cartouche.
Two elegant court ladies in their flowing pastel robes, one standing while holding a conversation with the one seated holding a fan.
A young boy his hands behind his back standing in the middle.
A lake in the background a small yellow bridge on the left foreshore in the distance.
In the foreground small rock formations surround the paved fenced yard, steps leading down to the left.
Overhanging pine blossom, pagoda style roof.
The sides of the bottle with scrolling leafage, salmon pink peony flowers, blue asters all set against an ivory ground.

The base with a blue 4 character Kangxi period mark against a white ground.

Formerly the property of a Japanese collector

Condition: Very good. No damage.
The cap is not original
Either this current replacement cap, or a modern gold metal colour filigreed stopper is offered.

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: 5.3 cm
Width about: 4.6 cm
A$2,000

This superb bottle is comparable in quality to the finest of bottles produced in the Imperial Workshops of the Imperial Palace, 造 辦 處 Zaobanchu

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 Bottlers 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).