The Meriem Collection Part II. Lot 231

231
**A RARE BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, JINGDE ZHEN KILNS, XIANFENG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1851-1861)
Of cylindrical form with a convex lip and recessed flat foot surrounded by a footrim, the body painted with a continuous design of a five-clawed dragon flying amidst clouds in pursuit of a flaming pearl above a second dragon rising from turbulent, formalized waves encircling the base, the sloped shoulder painted with flames and clouds below a collar of stylized lingzhi heads suspending jewels, the foot inscribed with a four-character mark in underglaze blue seal script, Xianfeng nian zhi (Made in the Xianfeng period), ivory stopper with carnelian finial
7.1 cm. high
$2,500-3,000

P R O V E N A N C E :
Jin Hing & Co., Los Angeles.

Porcelain snuff bottles with Imperial Xianfeng mark are rare. This example was made during the initial years of the Xianfeng reign, as the Jingde Zhen Imperial kilns were destroyed at some time shortly before mid-1855 during the Taiping rebellion (1850-1864) and halted production for the rest of the reign. Another Xianfeng-marked bottle was sold in our South Kensington rooms, 19 June 2003, lot 165.

The Meriem Collection Part II. Lot 231