Lot 077 A RARE CANTON ENAMEL ‘DRAGON AND CLOUDS’ SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY

Description

A RARE CANTON ENAMEL ‘DRAGON AND CLOUDS’ SNUFF BOTTLE
QING DYNASTY
清 铜胎画珐琅云龙纹鼻烟壶
MEASUREMENTS
H. 7.9 cm, 3.1 in.
ESTIMATE
USD 300 — 500
(HKD 2,300 — 3,900)
The snuff bottle is of an elegant flattened globular form, featuring a small mouth and a short neck, meticulously crafted from a high-quality copper alloy. The exterior is coated in a smooth, brilliant white enamel ground, serving as a luminous canvas for the vibrant polychrome decoration. A majestic dragon is depicted in mid-flight amongst drifting multi-colored clouds, rendered in a rich palette of iron-red, copper-green, yellow, and cobalt-blue enamels. The dragon’s dynamic posture, with finely detailed scales, flowing whiskers, and powerful claws, exhibits a sense of imperial vitality. The brushwork is precise and fluid, with the vivid colors creating a striking contrast against the pristine white ground.
此鼻烟壶为经典扁圆腹造型，小口短颈，胎体以红铜精制而成。器身通体施莹润白釉为地，其上以红、绿、黄、蓝等多色珐琅彩描绘云龙纹。龙形矫健，穿梭于五彩祥云之间，其鳞甲层叠清晰，龙须飞扬，龙爪苍劲有力，神态威严灵动。线条勾勒精准流畅，祥云布局疏密有致，飘逸自然。整器釉面光洁，色彩对比明快热烈，展现了清代画珐琅工艺在色彩表现与精微写实方面的卓越成就。
The dragon is the supreme symbol of auspicious power and cosmic transformation in Chinese culture. During the Qing dynasty, Canton Enamel (Yangci) became a favored medium for royal and elite snuff containers, celebrated for its ability to mimic the richness of oil paintings. The 7.9 cm height provides a generous surface for this complex narrative, allowing the artist to showcase the interplay between the regal dragon and the symbolic “five-colored clouds” representing heavenly peace. This bottle, with its refined metallic core and jewel-like enamel finish, is a sophisticated representative of the high-level craftsmanship that flourished in the workshops of southern China during the mid-to-late Qing period.
在清代工艺美术中，铜胎画珐琅因其兼具金属坚致与绘画绚丽的特点，深得王公贵族喜爱。此器所绘龙纹象征皇权与祥瑞，五彩祥云则寓意“太平盛世、五福临门”。7.9厘米的高度使画面更具张力，不仅是一件功能性烟草容器，更是案头陈设的精美艺术小品。其制作工艺严谨，色彩历经百年依然明艳如新，体现了清代画珐琅器在东西方审美交融下形成的独特艺术风范。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: In overall very good condition. The enamel colors remain vibrant and well-adhered to the copper body. Minor stable pitting and characteristic age-related surface wear to the white ground. No significant losses to the decoration.
• 状况： 整体品相良好。珐琅彩发色明艳，与铜胎结合紧密。见时代特征之微小自然针眼及表面轻微磨损，釉面整体完好，无明显彩料剥落或修补迹象。