Lot 075 A FAMILLE-ROSE ‘FLOWERS AND BIRDS’ MEIPING-STYLE SNUFF BOTTLE LATE QING DYNASTY – REPUBLIC PERIOD

Description

A FAMILLE-ROSE ‘FLOWERS AND BIRDS’ MEIPING-STYLE SNUFF BOTTLE
LATE QING DYNASTY – REPUBLIC PERIOD
晚清至民国 粉彩柳莺花鸟纹梅瓶式鼻烟壶
MEASUREMENTS
H. 6.3 cm, 2.4 in.
ESTIMATE
USD 300 — 500
(HKD 2,300 — 3,900)
The snuff bottle is elegantly potted in a classic meiping (plum vase) form, featuring a narrow mouth, a short neck, and broad, “plump” shoulders that taper gracefully toward a recessed base. The porcelain body is remarkably fine and thin, covered in a luminous, milk-white glaze. The exterior is vibrantly decorated in a delicate famille-rose palette, depicting a spirited oriole perched upon a weeping willow branch amidst seasonal blossoms. The painting employs a sophisticated literati style, with fluid brushwork and naturalistic tonal gradations that capture the ephemeral beauty of a spring morning.
此鼻烟壶呈经典梅瓶造型：小口、短颈、丰肩、腹部渐收。器型比例协调，线条挺拔秀美。胎体轻薄细腻，釉面洁白莹润，如脂如玉。瓶身以粉彩描绘“柳莺花鸟”图，画风深受清代文人写生画影响，笔触简练而不失神韵。柳条依依，雀鸟灵动，色彩晕染过度自然，展现出极高的艺术表现力。6.3厘米的高度小巧玲珑，既便于鼻烟的储存与日常取用，亦是极佳的案头清供。
The combination of the willow and the oriole (ying) is a classic auspicious motif in Chinese art. The oriole is a homophone for ying (hero), imbuing the scene with the poetic meaning of “A hero achieving his ambition” (yingxiong dezhi) or simply celebrating the “Vibrancy of Spring” (chunyi angran). During the late Qing and Republic periods, these meiping-style bottles were highly favored by the literati for their historical silhouette and their embodiment of scholarly taste. This piece, with its refined porcelain quality and lively narrative, stands as a charming example of the fusion between functional utility and the sophisticated aesthetic of the Chinese scholar-official class.
在传统吉祥纹饰中，“莺”谐音“英”，柳莺花鸟图常寓意“英雄得志”或“前程似锦”。此器将大件瓷器的梅瓶形制浓缩于方寸之间，体现了晚清民初藏家对“小中见大”美学的追求。其画面构图疏密有致，色泽清雅脱俗，不仅是一件实用的烟草容器，更是随身携带的艺术雅玩，生动记录了那个时代文人阶层对精致生活的审美志向。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: In overall excellent condition. The porcelain body is free of any chips, cracks, or restorations. The famille-rose enamels remain vibrant with minimal surface wear.
• 状况： 整体品相极佳。瓷胎坚实，经检测无任何崩口、裂纹或修复迹象。粉彩发色明丽，见时代特征之极轻微釉面磨损，保存状况非常理想。