Description
Description
This is a 19th century carved Peking glass stuff bottle in ruby red cameo overlay that depicts horses frolicking among pine and willow trees. Glass of this kind was created by first using a core in which a glass blower makes the initial body shape. Later, this is then dipped into a basin of liquid glass creating an additional layer. This outer layer is then carved away by a skilled craftsmen. This particular bottle was probably inspired by the palace glass workshops but it was more likely produced elsewhere in one of the surrounding Beijing workshops. The core itself probably did indeed come from the palace glass blowers as it was known many Beijing workshops sourced their cores there.
I have not really taken the time yet to date this bottle more closely but a brief inspection tells us a few things. We can start with with the lively horses motifs which were common during the late Qianlong reign (1735 to 1796) but it’s known this was a motif that was carried forward into later times. And while red overlay was very popular during the 18th century, it too continued onward well into the 19th.One can see the progression in quality with earlier/later datings almost perfectly by considering these two almost identical bottles, each from a different date (one earlier and one later).
The first is an earlier one in the Walter’s Art Muesum:
https://art.thewalters.org/detail/38575/snuff-bottle-with-a-horse-in-a-landscape/
A much less elegant, poorly rendered version of this bottle can be found in the Hadn Museum of Art in Florida:
It seems a mid 19th century dating for this bottle is relatively safe.
Period
Late Qing Dynasty (1636–1912)
Condition
Excellent condition. Minor scratches to the glass from long-term use. The serpentine stopper is possibly a later replacement (as can be seen under magnification – the patination of the metal stopper lid does not match the bottles rim). Minor dust and dirt inside the bottle from daily use at the time. There are numerous smaller scratches & cracks visible under magnification. The serpentine stopper is likely not original to the bottle (as is common occurrence).
Provenance
Japanese private collection
Size (cm): 6 L x 3 W x 7.5 H
Size (inch): 2.36 L x 1.18 W x 2.95 H