Maiden and Boy

Maiden and Boy

QING PERIOD (1644 to 1911)

Chinese Enamel Falangcai 珐琅彩 Copper Snuff Bottle

A superb compact snuff bottle of flattened round form painted with a continuous idyllic European landscape scene of a young fair haired maiden dressed in a yellow tunic with white and puce sleeves. A blue sash around her waist, white pantaloons, seated in front of a basket of red and blue flowers.
A young boy seated nearby dressed in a pale blouson with a cream necktie as he tends to four young white goats.
The background of lush green verdant foliage and grasses, rockery, a lake, a large manor in the distance. A stippled blue sky with white clouds

An elaborate collar decorated with red , white scrolling set against a lime green and a pale pink grounds.
The foot with scrolling in puce.
The base with a blue four character Qianlong Period mark against white .

This bottle compares well with those produced in the Imperial Workshops of the Imperial Palace, 造 辦 處 Zaobanchu

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.

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 : 4.5 cm
Width about: 3.7 cm

A$3,000
Ref: Christies Hong Kong 25 April 2004 Lot 816. A bottle of similar size and very similar subject was sold for HK$1,127,750.

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).