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1914 Ma shaoxian snuff bottle

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Steven
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« on: September 16, 2017, 11:20:34 am »

Here I am sharing a Ma shaoxian  playing cats bottle I acquired a while back.

Dated Jia yin 1914 , we can see a quite few of same motif bottle signed Ma shaoxuan, but this is the only motif I found signed Ma shaoxian , I assume that a quite few of same motif bottle was painted by Ma shaoxian, but false signed with Mao shaocuan.

The calligraphy side is well done, while the cats are painted a little too dark compared with other playing cats bottles.

Anyway, any comments are welcome as always.

Cheers!

Steven


* msx1.jpg (672.72 KB, 1000x1543 - viewed 135 times.)

* msx2.jpg (605.58 KB, 1000x1549 - viewed 105 times.)
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rpfstoneman
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« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2017, 04:10:10 pm »


Steven,

Lovely bottle, and a artist with that theme I've been trying to acquire myself for sometime.   No luck as of yet!!!  The last one I saw in person (artist and theme) was with Marsha Vargas in her San Francisco shop.  She was asking $5000 for it at the time and eventually sold it.  The painting on your bottle is in better condition and crisper than the one Marsha had. 

Hope this acquisition continues to bring you constant joy.  Nice find and addition to the collection.

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

Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2017, 04:26:23 pm »

Dear Steven,

    Very good example by Ma Shaoxian. I think you are right that a number of  bottles signed Ma Shaoxuan, including ones of this subject, may well be by Ma Shaoxian.

    I agree with Charll.
Congratulations,
Joey
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Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

Rube
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« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2017, 08:21:47 pm »

Steven,

Is there any significance to both cats having 6 toes?

Cheers,

Rube.
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Steven
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« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2017, 10:58:02 pm »

Thanks Charll and Joey for your nice comments! Yes, I am thrilled when I acquired it.Smiley



Is there any significance to both cats having 6 toes?



-Thanks Rube!! Nice catch!!:) I did not even notice that, it must be a mistake. Embarrassed Shocked

Anyway, I can do nothing about it right now....

Cheers,

Steven
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Luke
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« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2017, 04:40:28 am »

Hi Steven,

I don't know anything about inside painted, but just wanted to say what a pleasing and charming bottle.

Best,
Luke
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George
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« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2017, 12:43:47 am »

Just want to say what a wonderful bottle Steven and congrats !!
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Steven
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« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2017, 11:14:36 am »

Thanks all for your nice comment!!

I have been very lucky to acquire some bottles which I would never think about I would have a chance to get my hands on  when I started to collect . I have to thanks to George and All the veteran collectors on the FORUM. I wish I can pass those luckiness to all the collectors on the FORUM. Happy hunting!!

Steven 
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forestman
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« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2017, 03:17:39 am »

Hi Steven,

I've just noticed the example from the Bloch collection with the same subject as yours was titled as "Two Badgers" as opposed to two cats.

Their example has either 4 or 5 toes depending on which paw it is and doesn't have grass in the background but other than that is very similar.

Regards, Adrian.
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Mat
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« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2017, 03:43:06 am »

I do not think that the 6 toes are a mistake, especially when both cats have them. Look here: http://www.hemingwayhome.com/cats
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Rube
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« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2017, 08:33:55 am »

Mat,

That's why I was wondering if there was any "significance" to a 6 toed cat?

Cheers,

Rube.
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Steven
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« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2017, 01:24:14 pm »

Dear All,

Thank you so much for your inputs! Cheesy


I've just noticed the example from the Bloch collection with the same subject as yours was titled as "Two Badgers" as opposed to two cats.


-Thanks Adrian for pointing it out, I actually have some different opinions on the title, I still think the "two cats" is more appropriate than " two badger". Yes, the motif is called 双欢图 "The picture of Double happiness" and in chinese, the happiness 欢 has same the pronunciation  as 獾 Badger, which sounds reasonable the animals should be Badgers instead of cats. But the truth is that   as long as there are two animals playing together in the picture, which all can be called the pic of double happiness.

Attached please find three different pics of double happiness, one is painted with Tigers, one is painted with dogs, and the last  one is painted with  badgers.

I do not think that the 6 toes are a mistake, especially when both cats have them. Look here: http://www.hemingwayhome.com/cats


Dear Mat, Thank you for your info, I feel much better now. Cheesy not only my cats with 6 toes...

Best to all,

Steven


* 201606061353198632715818.jpg (782.81 KB, 1800x1142 - viewed 44 times.)

* double happiness.JPG (26.48 KB, 535x239 - viewed 41 times.)

* 1450433491645200_219.jpg (152.31 KB, 1173x1024 - viewed 49 times.)

* 329f3fa1b7227bbbbc2f5025c1e31ef5.jpg (724.61 KB, 800x1286 - viewed 41 times.)
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« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2017, 09:48:10 am »

Hi Steven,

In the Treasury books there is no mention of Badgers, it was used as a description by Sotheby's when the Bloch collection was sold. They are referred to as amorous cats which makes sense as two cats symbolise marital happiness and fertility. I can say they don't represent any sort of badger I've seen so it must be the from happiness having the same pronunciation as Badger.

The Bloch's had 3 examples of the same subject dated 1897, 1899 and 1904, the latest one signed Ma Shaoxian whilst the other 2 were signed Ma Shaoxuan, one possibly by him or a family member (1897), the other given as Family of Ma Shaoxuan and a miniature bottle.

Their Ma Shaoxian has yellow eyes like yours whereas the other two don't, or not noticeably. The earlier, possibly Ma Shaoxuan, is different from the other 2 and yours in that the foremost leg on the top cat is painted straighter and doesn't have folds in the flesh.

Perhaps we ought to post them all and play "spot the difference"  Smiley

Regards, Adrian.
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Steven
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« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2017, 04:38:12 pm »

Thanks Adrian for your insights!


Their Ma Shaoxian has yellow eyes like yours whereas the other two don't, or not noticeably. The earlier, possibly Ma Shaoxuan, is different from the other 2 and yours in that the foremost leg on the top cat is painted straighter and doesn't have folds in the flesh.

Perhaps we ought to post them all and play "spot the difference"  Smiley



And very detailed observation!! Its always the best way to learn by putting the bottles together and compare with them side by side.

Cheers!

Steven
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snuffmke
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« Reply #14 on: August 02, 2020, 06:40:14 pm »

Hi Steven,

I was just looking through The Au Hang Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles book and noticed a bottle that is nearly identical to the one you posted here. This one is signed Ma Shaoxuan, but the reason I'm posting it is it refers to the animals as Siberian tigers representing "Double Cat", which is a pun for happiness. So another piece of the puzzle perhaps.

Best,

Brian


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* IMG_9992.jpg (167.77 KB, 1000x544 - viewed 27 times.)
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Brian – A third generation collector in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Steven
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« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2020, 08:47:35 pm »

Dear Brian,

Thanks for adding more reference to the "double cat" bottle. Hopefully we will find more later on...

Cheers !

Steven
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