Nephrite With Archaic Script

[Wattana]

John,
This is one of the most elegant bottle shapes.
IMO the surface decoration is not needed. It looks lost against such a striking natural pattern in the stone.

Tom

[bambooforrest]

Tom, I agree the decoration is hard to see and probably not necessary. The next bottle is similar, but the double gourds and vines are nicely done [51mm].

[Wattana]

Indeed, the carving does look well executed on this bottle.

Tom

[Bob]

 I really like this bottle! It is my favorite of the four. Thank you for responding to my question about Rare Art.    Bob

[bambooforrest]

Tom and Bob, thanks for the input. The last one has a thin profile, interesting mask handles and a raised carved footrim [66mm].

[bambooforrest]

One of my most archaic looking bottles from the Denys Cowell Collection [57mm]. Chicken bone [buried] jade with seven chi dragons.

[Joey]

Dear John,

  Can we see the foot and the mouth?
Best,
Joey

[Wattana]

Nice bottle John.
I was wondering where the seventh chi dragon was, until I saw the base/foot.

[Joey]

Oh yes. I saw the foot with the dragon design.
But I’d like to see the mouth face on without the stopper.
Best,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

Picture of the mouth opening.

[Joey]

Dear Richard,

    Not necessarily.
The Qing Court lost control over Khotan, the area supplying most Nephrite Jade to the Court,
from 1710 in the Kangxi reign till 1758 in the Qianlong reign.
My thesis is that a superbly made bottle done in poor quality Jade was made in The Palace Workshops or
in Suzhou [where 80% of hardstone carving was produced], between those dates [1710-1758].
Best Wishes,
Joey

Hi John

That is one of the considerations for a lotus flower theme.

Even if the jade weren't pure white, we would expect a better-quality jade for an imperial bottle.

Regards.


Richard

[richy88]

Hi Joey

Even though the Qing court lost control over Khotan, there are many other sources of jade in China during that time. And not forgetting that they have inherited a lot of raw material stock from the previous Ming dynasty as well.

Therefore, there should be no shortfall of decent quality jade for an imperial bottle.

Besides, the fact that snuff bottles are small objects, there is no excuse for using a sub-standard quality for the imperial court. The artisans and officials who presented this to the emperor will risk their lives should it be rejected.

Just my opinion.

Regards.


Richard

[Joey]

Dear Richard,

    That's an interesting perspective.

However, my thesis was adopted by Carol Michaelson, retired Assistant Keeper of
Chinese Antiquities in the British Museum [the BM], in her lecture on Chinese Jade Snuff Bottles,
during the 2017 London Convention of the ICSBS.

I'd been in London in 2016, and had taken Carol & her husband Robin, and Susan Page,
and a few other snuff bottle collectors [Luke and another of the members of the Forum
from the UK], to Ken Lo's Memories of China on Ebury St.
I suggested this as an explanation for a number of superbly carved bottles made of
very poor quality Jade.

She did research  on materials in the BM, and added the suggestion to her lecture,
re. possible Imperial bottles from ca.1736 - 1758.

Best,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

To change things up a bit I am posting this example. Stained glass [53mm] of jarlet form with mask handles. Museum mark on the bottom.

[bambooforrest]

A new find [55mm] has a nice soft polish to the stone. Maybe Richard can help with the calligraphy.

[Joey]

BEAUTIFUL Jade, John.
Congratulations,
Great find,
Best,
Joey

[richy88]

Hi John

The inscription on the first photo reads: "the prescription for youth came from the sea". The two characters at the end are Dan Ting, which means red pavilion.

The inscription on the side is happiness.

And the last inscription is "there is an elixir in the bottle", with the two characters, Shou Quan which means the spring of longevity.

For your reference.

Regards.


Richard

[Joey]

To change things up a bit I am posting this example. Stained glass [53mm] of jarlet form with mask handles. Museum mark on the bottom.

Dear John,

    I'm confused.
Is this Glass imitating Jade?
I assumed it was Jade when I first saw the photos!
Best,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

Richard, thanks for the translation. Joey, the stained glass description is for the previous bottle.

[Joey]

John, I know it was for the previous bottle, not the one with the inscription.
But the plain bottle looks like archaic Jade.
When you have it in hand, does it look like glass or like it is imitating Jade?
And if so, Vince Fausone might be interested.
His special interest is in glass imitating other materials.
Best,
Joey