AN IMPERIAL CINNABAR LACQUER SNUFF BOTTLE, 1730-1830China. Of flattened ovoid form, deeply carved through the layers of cinnabar lacquer with a continuous landscape scene divided by rockwork and a pine tree into two separate subjects, one with a pupil kneeling in front of his teacher in a fenced garden, the other with a man offering fruit to hispanion carrying a long stick, all on a variety of diaper grounds.Provenance: From an English private collection.Condition: Good condition with minor wear, expected small age cracks, minuscule nicks, and few tiny losses.Stopper: Pink glassWeight: 81.6 gDimensions: Height incl. stopper 75 mm. Diameter neck 20 mm and mouth 7 mmThis is a classic imperial lacquer snuff bottle on bronze. This group of bottles represents masterly carving in lacquer that is splendidly sculptural and covers a range of delightful subject matter usually drawn from popular dramas, operas or novels, or myths and legends. We can be sure that the group as a whole was imperial, even if we cannot be sure that every last example was made for the court. If they were for example made in Suzhou, the same workshops might have made a few pieces for private sale as well.Literatureparison:Four cinnabar lacquer bottles from this group carved with figural scenes are in the Qing Court Collection in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and are illustrated in Masterpieces of Snuff Bottles in the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1995, pp. 187-90, nos. 192-95. Another is illustrated in Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 7, Part 1, Hong Kong, 2009, pp. 175-82, no. 1538.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: New York, 20 March 2012, lot 66Price: USD 25,000 or approx.EUR 31,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A carved cinnabar lacquer snuff bottle, probably Imperial, possibly Palace workshops, 1730-1820Expert remark: Note the size (5.7 cm)Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2007, lot 7Price: USD 20,400 or approx.EUR 28,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A fine carved lacquer snuff bottle, probably Imperial, attributed to the Palace workshops, Beijing, 1730-1820Expert remark: Note the size (6.35 cm)1730-1830年御用剔犀鼻煙壺中國。束頸，豐肩，剔犀層層深雕，山水景觀，一面是錦地庭園景觀，一位文人跪在另一位文人面前；另一面可見一個人把一盤水果遞給他的同伴。