Lot 089 A CARVED JADEITE ‘BATHING HORSES’ SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY – REPUBLIC PERIOD

Description

A CARVED JADEITE ‘BATHING HORSES’ SNUFF BOTTLE
QING DYNASTY – REPUBLIC PERIOD
清至民国 翡翠暗刻“浴马图”及“马到成功”纹鼻烟壶
MEASUREMENTS
H. (including stopper) 6.1 cm, 2.4 in.
ESTIMATE
USD 200 — 300
(HKD 1,500 — 2,300)
The snuff bottle is of a classic flattened globular form, featuring a slender neck and a slightly flared mouth. It is carved from jadeite of a refined “glutinous” variety (nuozhong), exhibiting a delicate, semi-translucent milky-white tone with a subtle, waxy luster. One side is masterfully incised with a “Bathing Horses” scene, a classical theme in Chinese painting, depicting the animals in various spirited poses by a riverbank. The reverse is inscribed with four characters in seal script (zhuanshu) reading Ma Dao Cheng Gong (Success Upon Arrival). The bottle is crowned with an orange-red agate stopper set in a metal mount, providing a vibrant color contrast to the cool tones of the jadeite.
此鼻烟壶形制端庄，呈扁圆腹样式，配以短颈小口。壶身选用糯种翡翠雕琢，质地细腻温润，呈现出如凝脂般的白色半透明感。器身一侧以精细的刀法暗刻**“浴马图”，画面中骏马姿态各异，生动传神；另一侧则镌刻篆书“马到成功”四字，线条流畅且具金石之气。盖钮选用橘红色玛瑙**，色泽明艳夺目，与金属镶口交相辉映，在视觉上与素雅的壶身形成了完美的冷暖对比。
The motif of “Bathing Horses” is deeply rooted in the artistic traditions of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, often serving as an allegory for the proper management of talent and the harmonious governance of the state. The accompanying inscription Ma Dao Cheng Gong is a powerful auspicious greeting, traditionally wishing the recipient immediate victory or swift professional advancement. In the late Qing and Republic periods, such snuff bottles were highly esteemed as “scholar’s playthings” (wenwan), carried by nobles and literati alike as symbols of status and refined taste. The combination of high-quality jadeite, classical narrative carving, and a vibrant agate stopper makes this piece a sophisticated example of private lapidary art.
“浴马图”是中国传统艺术中的经典题材，不仅展现了马之矫健，更寓意人才得用、政通人和。侧面的**“马到成功”字样，则赋予了此器极其直观的吉祥寓意，寄托了事业顺遂、捷报频传的美好期许。此类翡翠鼻烟壶在清末民初时期是贵族与文人案头或随身必备的雅玩。本品集糯种翡翠的温润、玛瑙的绚丽与图文并茂**的艺术表达于一体，虽尺寸玲珑，却气象万千，是极具代表性的近现代文人审美小品。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: The jadeite body is in overall excellent condition with no visible cracks or restorations. The incised decoration remains crisp. The agate stopper is well-fitted with minor age-appropriate surface wear to the metal mount.
• 状况： 翡翠壶身品相极佳，质地坚实，经检测无任何裂纹或修复迹象。暗刻线条清晰完整。玛瑙盖扣合严密，金属镶口见时代特征之自然轻微磨损。