About This Forum

This snuff bottle community forum is dedicated to the novice, more experienced, and expert collectors. Topics are intended to cover all aspects and types of bottle collecting. To include trials, tribulations, identifying, researching, and much more.

Among other things, donations help keep the forum free from Google type advertisements, and also make it possible to purchases additional photo hosting MB space.

Forum Bottle in the Spotlight

Charll shared this beautiful Xianfeng (1851-1861) dated bottle depicting NeZha combating the Dragon King amongst a rolling sea of blue and eight mythical sea creatures.


Chinese Snuff Bottle Discussion Forum 中國鼻煙壺討論論壇
March 29, 2024, 06:41:54 am
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
  Home Help Search Contact Login Register  

Underglazed Blue and Copper Red Designs

Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 16
  Print  
Author Topic: Underglazed Blue and Copper Red Designs  (Read 11925 times)
0 Members and 263 Guests are viewing this topic.
Wattana
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 6133



« Reply #60 on: July 19, 2018, 05:44:36 am »

Dear Joey,

Thanks for the interesting background of Harriet Hamilton. I have the book of her collection (with all of its misinformation), but it of course mentions nothing of her family history.

I hate to disappoint, but the provenance of my bottle is Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton (their first names escape me) who sold off their collection via Sotheby's in 2003. I do not believe there is any connection between that couple and Harriet Hamilton.

Best,
Tom
Report Spam   Logged

Collecting since 1971

Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 11283


« Reply #61 on: July 19, 2018, 06:09:34 am »

Dear Tom,

     Unless I'm seriously mistaken, the Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton whose bottle you bought in 2003, inherited it from Harriet Hamilton, on her passing in 1997.
Was the Mr. Hamilton, Edward Morse Hamilton Jr., of Atherton CA ? 
If not, then I've no impediments to buying that beautiful bottle [other than your unreasonable refusal to sell it!  Roll Eyes Shocked Grin].
Enjoy it in good health,
Best,
Joey
Report Spam   Logged

Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

Wattana
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 6133



« Reply #62 on: July 19, 2018, 06:54:09 am »


Was the Mr. Hamilton, Edward Morse Hamilton Jr., of Atherton CA ? 


Dear Joey,

I honestly don't remember. I will need to locate my copy of the auction catalog before confirming the couple's first names.

As for your other comments.........noted !!!

Best,
Tom
Report Spam   Logged

Collecting since 1971

Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 11283


« Reply #63 on: July 19, 2018, 09:52:26 am »

Dear Tom,

      My mistake.
      It was the collection of Ann & John Hamilton, from Houston TX. I met them at the Washington DC convention in 2000 and then at the Houston convention in 2001. I did not attend the Singapore convention in 2002, because my late mom wanted me with her when she got radiation therapy at that time.

     They didn't attend the LA convention in 2003.
Best,
Joey
Report Spam   Logged

Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

Wattana
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 6133



« Reply #64 on: July 19, 2018, 09:59:50 am »

Dear Joey,

That's them! Ann and John Hamilton from Houston, Texas.
Thanks for the memory jolt. Saves me having to find the catalog.....  Cheesy

Best,
Tom
Report Spam   Logged

Collecting since 1971

rpfstoneman
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 2340



« Reply #65 on: February 07, 2021, 12:20:17 am »

All,

Here is the unglazed blue and copper red bottle that I made reference to in the post of the 'soft paste cobalt blue Lotus Scroll' bottle.  This was acquired as a two bottle lot, in which I was going after the Lotus Scroll bottle.   

Blue & Copper Red Porcelain Snuff Bottle:
Cylindrical body with a motif of eleven copper red bats (fu) flying amongst a field of blue ruyi fungus (lingzhi).  Double-line blue borders around the bottle base and top of neck that frame the design.  Appears to be coil ring construction with a glazed interior.  Bottle sets over an inset raised unglazed foot ring with an apocryphal blue Kangxi mark encircled with a single blue ring on the base.  Height is 3 5/8th inches or 8.5 cm without stopper.  Stopper is blue enameled brass in the form of a Chinese official’s hat.

Designs within double-line borders is often a sign of 18th century decoration, but this piece is obviously ‘Kangxi Revival’. 

The bat is a pun for “blessings” (fu) and the fungus in this case is likely a rebus for “may your wishes come true” (Source: Hidden Meaning in Chinese Art, Terese Tse Bartholomew, 2006).  Many bats (fu) in a field of fungus (lingzhi) is likely the bestowment to one of “Many Blessings and May all Your Wishes Come True”.   

Period: ca. late 19th or early 20th century, maybe later.

Condition: Pristine, but obvious firing control issues as seen by the greying out in the copper red.  No stopper or spoon at purchase.

Obviously I am still trying to work out the lighting contrast consistency in my cheap camera photography. 

Charll   


* Bat&Fungus_2978c.jpg (138.84 KB, 616x800 - viewed 33 times.)

* Bat&Fungus_2979b.jpg (152.88 KB, 678x800 - viewed 25 times.)

* Bat&Fungus_2981d.jpg (160.05 KB, 731x800 - viewed 32 times.)

* Bats&Fungus_2982e.jpg (137.23 KB, 800x600 - viewed 29 times.)

* 48806184_1_1x.jpg (46.61 KB, 800x533 - viewed 20 times.)
« Last Edit: February 07, 2021, 02:10:10 pm by rpfstoneman » Report Spam   Logged

Charll K Stoneman, Eureka, California USA, Collector Since 1979.

George
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Gender: Male
Posts: 11350


Test


WWW
« Reply #66 on: February 07, 2021, 05:06:23 am »

Nice bottle Charll, congratulations..   That stopper is especially wonderful Smiley
Report Spam   Logged

"Experience Each Experience To The Fullest To Obtain The Most Growth"

Snuff Bottle Journal
Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 11283


« Reply #67 on: February 12, 2021, 04:34:44 pm »

Dear Charll,

    Like George, I also love the stopper.
But I prefer the Lotus flower heads bottle.
Best,
Joey
Report Spam   Logged

Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

bambooforrest
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Posts: 1244


« Reply #68 on: June 23, 2022, 01:37:11 pm »

One of my best fired copper red dragons [80mm].


* TH D1 (2).JPG (129.92 KB, 303x800 - viewed 16 times.)

* TH D2 (2).JPG (128.35 KB, 302x800 - viewed 5 times.)

* TH D3 (2).JPG (127.89 KB, 304x800 - viewed 5 times.)

* TH D4 (2).JPG (119.53 KB, 300x800 - viewed 7 times.)

* TH D5 (2).JPG (124.59 KB, 534x500 - viewed 8 times.)
Report Spam   Logged

John O'Hara

Wattana
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 6133



« Reply #69 on: June 23, 2022, 10:37:22 pm »

Impressive bottle.
Report Spam   Logged

Collecting since 1971

bambooforrest
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Posts: 1244


« Reply #70 on: June 26, 2022, 12:46:40 pm »

This is one of the most interesting bottles I have found. It was displayed at the Walters Museum for the 2018 convention, but no one noticed it. The only bottle I have where the top was made to be part of the design. If you look at the second photo you will see the MOP collar is notched and the glaze is missing on the neck of the bottle. This is the spot where the plume of bats is escaping the bottle. 75mm


* WAL 1A (2).JPG (132.43 KB, 376x800 - viewed 12 times.)

* WAL 1B (2).JPG (221.54 KB, 778x700 - viewed 12 times.)

* WAL2 (2).JPG (126.57 KB, 363x800 - viewed 14 times.)

* WAL3 (2).JPG (126.32 KB, 354x800 - viewed 7 times.)

* WAL4 (2).JPG (123.36 KB, 370x800 - viewed 10 times.)

* WAL5 (2).JPG (118.03 KB, 496x500 - viewed 7 times.)
Report Spam   Logged

John O'Hara

richy88
Private Boards / Forum Themes and Scenes Specialist
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 3036



« Reply #71 on: June 26, 2022, 11:23:19 pm »

Interesting bottle, John.

Are there 5 bats on the bottle?
Report Spam   Logged

Richard from sunny Singapore
Evaluate • Educate • Entertain
Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 4049



« Reply #72 on: June 27, 2022, 12:39:12 am »

Dear John, how interesting. Really interesting, and the quality of the underglaze copper red bats is very high, either for the quality of the drawing and firing.
Kind regards
Giovanni
Report Spam   Logged

bambooforrest
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Posts: 1244


« Reply #73 on: June 27, 2022, 12:06:28 pm »

Richard and Giovanni, there are indeed 5 bats. The bats are well painted but show some misfiring of the copper red....John
Report Spam   Logged

John O'Hara

richy88
Private Boards / Forum Themes and Scenes Specialist
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 3036



« Reply #74 on: June 27, 2022, 09:26:35 pm »

Hi John

Thanks. Just want to make sure that no one escapes!  Grin Grin

In Chinese, the bat sounds similar to Fu (福 blessing) and there is a common phrase, Wu Fu Lin Men (五福临门)  which means Five Blessings. Sometimes they were shown surrounding the Shou medallion, indicating longevity and blessings.

For your reference.


Richard



Report Spam   Logged

Richard from sunny Singapore
Evaluate • Educate • Entertain
bambooforrest
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Posts: 1244


« Reply #75 on: June 29, 2022, 01:01:04 pm »

This is a rare example of a copper red bottle with 3 cobalt blue lines [83mm]. The glaze has a soft polish to it, concentric rings on the base. I found the bottle at the Bonham's and Butterfields sale in 2006....John


* BO R1 (2).JPG (143.33 KB, 318x800 - viewed 14 times.)

* BO R2 (2).JPG (141.72 KB, 314x800 - viewed 8 times.)

* BO R3 (2).JPG (129.03 KB, 311x800 - viewed 7 times.)

* BO R4 (2).JPG (138.26 KB, 307x800 - viewed 6 times.)

* BO R5 (2).JPG (131.14 KB, 533x500 - viewed 7 times.)
Report Spam   Logged

John O'Hara

Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 11283


« Reply #76 on: June 29, 2022, 01:05:45 pm »

Very nice example of an underglazed Copper Red decorated porcelain snuff bottle [with the underglazed blue lines].
Joey
« Last Edit: June 29, 2022, 06:39:00 pm by Joey » Report Spam   Logged

Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

rpfstoneman
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 2340



« Reply #77 on: July 16, 2022, 01:42:46 pm »

Quote
This is one of the most interesting bottles I have found. It was displayed at the Walters Museum for the 2018 convention, but no one noticed it.

Link: https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,1491.0/msg,60181.html

John, I noticed this bottle at the Walters and remember it quite well.  I was intrigued by the design and very much appreciated it being on display.  I also recall going back a couple of times to take a second and third look at this bottle while we were there.

Attached is another bottle with a near similar design from that just sold on eBay from an Idaho location.  Note the bats in this design are going both directions; in and out. Maybe a later copy of the design?  Your bottle appears to be much better.

Charll


* s-l1600 (1).jpg (125.64 KB, 600x800 - viewed 6 times.)

* s-l1600 (2).jpg (121.04 KB, 600x800 - viewed 3 times.)

* s-l1600 (3).jpg (121.28 KB, 600x800 - viewed 4 times.)

* s-l1600 (4).jpg (121.13 KB, 600x800 - viewed 2 times.)

* s-l1600 (5).jpg (121.88 KB, 600x800 - viewed 1 times.)
Report Spam   Logged

Charll K Stoneman, Eureka, California USA, Collector Since 1979.

bambooforrest
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Posts: 1244


« Reply #78 on: July 16, 2022, 01:57:10 pm »

Charll, I saw the bottle. I did not like the way the bats were painted and of course the firing of the cobalt....John
Report Spam   Logged

John O'Hara

Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
Private Boards
Hero Member
***
Gender: Male
Posts: 11283


« Reply #79 on: July 16, 2022, 03:39:11 pm »

One of my best fired copper red dragons [80mm].

Yes, John.
A very impressively fired Copper Red decorated bottle.
Joey
Report Spam   Logged

Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 16
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal