Molded porcelain snuff bottle in its original antique box

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear all,
I believe that everybody of you knows the first picture below, from “Snuff bottles from China - The Victoria and Albert Museum collection” by Helen White.
Well, I have found a bottle in its original box like the ones seen in that picture: see the following pictures.
The bottle is more described in detail in my online collection, where you can enlarge the pictures and where it is compared with the other one of the same type that I have:
 https://www.xipangu.co.uk/mangialupo/?product=c48-a-very-fine-whish-for-many-children-snuff-bottle-and-original-box
Once you are there, remember to have a look also at the last four bottles in the ceramic group, which were not posted here.
Kind regards
Giovanni

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Giovanni,

      Wonderful! In all my years of collecting,
I've never seen one of these for sale.
Do you have the top half of the box?
Best,
Joey

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Joey, thank you very much!! That means that they are not easy to find.
I do not have the top lid, but who knows if they had it or were just on display that way?
Kind regards
Giovanni
 

[bambooforrest]

Giovanni, great find! I have not seen a box outside a museum....John

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Giovanni,

    My assumption is that the Chinese rarely go for half measures.
They might display the object without the cover in the shop,
though I doubt that as well.
But they would certainly have sold the bottle in a box for safety,
in other words with a cover.
I think of the Chinese predilection for padded boxes, and the
pleasure with which Y.F. Yang of blessed memory would present
me with a closed box, enjoying my look of amazement at the treasure
nestled inside.
I saw such individual fitted boxes at the National Padded Museum in Taipei,
and there was always a cover.
But as I wrote, I've NEVER seen one offered for sale.
Best,
Joey

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Joey and John,
thank you very much. It is a rarity, then.

Kind regards
Giovanni

[Bob]

Good morning, Giovanni. What a wonderful find! Not only is it rare to find the bottle in a fitted case, but the bottle itself could be a seldom seen example. I've seen a lot of this type and have one myself, but I've never seen one with the lady holding a flower over her shoulder. Your other example is without the flower. Thanks for posting. It gave me another chance to look at your beautiful collection.    Bob

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Bob,
thank you very much. Yes, it is of high grade compared to the commonly seen ones, including those sold by the major auction houses.
Kind regards
Giovanni

[Wattana]

Dear Giovanni,
Like Joey, I have never seen a snuff bottle for private sale with a fitted box of this type; only in museum collections.
The box has greater rarity than the bottle itself!    Although, as Bob says, the bottle is a fine example.
I agree that the box originally must have had a cover, which is now lost.

Best regards,
Tom

PS: Can we see a photo of the other side of this bottle?

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Tom,
thank you. You missed the link. Here you can see the bottle in big size and details, and compared to the other bottle of this type that I have:
 https://www.xipangu.co.uk/mangialupo/?product=c48-a-very-fine-whish-for-many-children-snuff-bottle-and-original-box

Kind regards
Giovanni

[Wattana]

Dear Giovanni,

Thank you for the link to your website. I had overlooked it.
Your comment that these porcelain bottles were not moulded is interesting. This appears to be the case, as there are at least two examples known to me which are carved from wood.

The one at left appears to be made of rosewood (Dalbergia spp.), while the one at right is possibly pearwood (Pyrus spp).
The latter has been posted on the forum before. It is from the Four Winds Collection. 

Best regards,
Tom

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Tom, absolutely interesting!
Even more detailed than the porcelain ones. Thank you for posting them, very nice and interesting.
Kind regards
Giovanni

[richy88]

Hi Giovanni & all

An interesting find.

I agreed with the rest that there should be a cover to the box as the intention is to protect the object. Without the cover, it is incomplete.

The subject of this bottle was very popular during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It is named Four concubines and sixteen children (四妃十六子) and can be found in paintings, porcelain, and other works of art.

The motif was actually propaganda by the Qing court to encourage more children. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, wars reduced the country's population sharply. From the end of Shunzhi to the Kangxi period, especially since the mid-Kangxi period, the large-scale wars in the territory ended, the society tended to be stable, and all industries were waiting to be flourished. So the demand for population appreciation gradually received attention. In the agricultural age, the population was wealth. Manpower was required to work on the farms. Therefore, more children in the family, especially boys, will be a valuable asset.

On a larger scale, the four concubines signify the four virtues, and the sixteen children represent loyal subjects. Therefore, the motif wishes the country's peace and prosperity.

For your reference.

Regards.


Richard

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Richard,
Thank you very much. I had the name of this motif from a Chinese friend from Gotheborg.
It is interesting to know that it was especially popular at the beginning of Qing dynasty for the reasons that you have explained, thank you.
In the description of the bottle, I said that I have the same motif on the ginger jar QBW113, which is of the Kangxi period. I will update the description of that jar with what you said here.
Here is the link for that jar. It is very interesting, in my opinion, a boy painted there, who is playing with a horse toy, which could be seen even today in some places.
https://www.xipangu.co.uk/mangialupo/?product=qbw13-a-whish-for-many-children-jar-kangxi-qing-dynasty
Kind regards
Giovanni

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Giovanni,

    Well done.

Dear Richard,

     Your knowledge is so impressive.
I had a molded and enamelled porcelain snuff bottle with this design,
and I mentioned in the description that the palm tree in the garden
was a sign it was molded copying a scene in sub-tropical south China
and that the children signified a wish for many boys.
Your information was so much more nuanced.
Best,
joey