The Gathering of the Dragons

[richy88]

Another set of snuff bottles with the dragon theme:

A reticulated porcelain bottle imitating turquoise caved with a dragon amidst clouds.

An apple green glass overlay bottle on a milky white ground carved with a dragon chasing a pearl.

A turquoise bottle carved with a flying dragon.

Enjoy!


Richard

[Wattana]

Another wonderful group Richard!

My preference is for the reticulated porcelain at left, although they are all very elegant.

Regards,
Tom

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Richard,

   I would go left to centre to right, in order of preference, but must admit the turquoise example doesn't
appeal to me.
But thank you for posting all three, and indeed, all those on this thread. I love Dragons, as you know.
Best,
Joey

[George]

Nice bottles... I would have to pick the turquoise over the other two as I think it has some age..

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Cathy,

     'Dramatic' or 'one of a kind' is often the kiss of death in Chinese Art, which was more into 'variations on a theme' and not too different variations, at that. 

I would go for the Inkstone example that Tom liked. I used to have a few of those.
Best,
Joey

Love these Dragon Bottles Richard.  Thanks so much for sharing this thread with all of us.  The ICSBS had a wonderful article on Dragon Bottles a few years ago.  Those who are members might want to go to the archives to check the article out.  It was in the Autumn 2000 Issue.   At auction a few years ago I purchased a great deal of old Journals and have learned much from studying them.   

I am enjoying this thread so much, thanks for posting these Richard! The one in the middle is my favorite of these - it is a dramatic bottle!

I have a blue overlay glass bottle with a design similar to the end bottles on your last post, and I would very much like to read more about these, but I don't have access to this journal. Does anyone have other suggestions on where I could read up on them?

I'm not even sure what to call them. I have found them referred to as hydras, chilongs, che lungs, chi dragons and dragons.

[cshapiro]

I think you need a woman's perspective on this board.

I stand by my decision to like that middle bottle the most, as a piece of art - beautifully carved from a spectacular colored stone.

I am judging it purely on aesthetics.

It puzzles me how the snuff bottle collecting world can be so restrictive - I can imagine this bottle on an empress's table much more easily than I can imagine the inkstone one being there! And yes I know you say bottles are made to be carried - but is there really proof written down that there weren't also special cabinet pieces made - to be displayed alongside the spectacular carvings that were also made during this period?

So you can tell me I'm "supposed" to like the inkstone, but I "really" like the dramatic one! 

[AntPeople]

Hi Cathy :

Maybe after a while longer......... you will find the green thing much cuter than the drama one.... it takes time, sometime a long time.....

Pin

[richy88]

Hi all

Thank you all for your interesting comments and feedback.

To each his own. We all have different preferences and tastes. Therefore, there is no right or wrong but how we appreciate our collection.

Moreover, our taste and collecting priority may also change over time.

One common factor though is that all of us collect them because of their artistic and aesthetic quality. Agreed?

This is another set comprising of 2 ivory bottles and a jade bottle:

An ivory bottle of double gourd shape carved on the upper and lower half with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl.

A jade bottle carved with a dragon chasing a pearl on each side.

An ivory bottle carved with a dragon among clouds in high relief.

Enjoy!


Richard

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Cathy,

     In this case, you should find it much cheaper to collect than I thought you would. 
Best,
Joey

I think you need a woman's perspective on this board.

I stand by my decision to like that middle bottle the most, as a piece of art - beautifully carved from a spectacular colored stone.

I am judging it purely on aesthetics.

It puzzles me how the snuff bottle collecting world can be so restrictive - I can imagine this bottle on an empress's table much more easily than I can imagine the inkstone one being there! And yes I know you say bottles are made to be carried - but is there really proof written down that there weren't also special cabinet pieces made - to be displayed alongside the spectacular carvings that were also made during this period?

So you can tell me I'm "supposed" to like the inkstone, but I "really" like the dramatic one! 

[cshapiro]

Touché Joey! hahahahaha

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Richard,

     I agree. 'Vive le difference'. 'To each his own'. 'It takes all kinds'. 'One person's trash is another person's treasure'.
Gotcha. 
Best,
Joey

[George]

What a great bunch of dragon bottles Richard.. ! 

[richy88]

Hi guys

Thanks for your comments and feedback.

Here is the finale of this group:

A well hollowed, floater agate bottle with paper thin wall using the natural dark inclusions to feature two interlocking dragons.

I called this bottle " The Struggle of the Dragons: The Final Conflict!" (sounds like your next blockbuster movie title, right?).   

Enjoy!


Richard

[AntPeople]

龍战于野，其血玄黄！

Very nice abstract representation of 2 fighting dragons !!!

Pin

[richy88]

Thanks Yee Pin!

That's was a very nice and appropriate comment in Chinese!


Richard

[YT]

Dear Richard,

Bottle is nice just that the abstract art is beyond me. My left brain has been lazy.

Cheers,
YT