Lot 099 TWO RARE BLUE AND WHITE WITH UNDERGLAZE-COPPER-RED ‘EIGHT IMMORTALS’ SNUFF BOTTLES 20th Century

Description

TWO RARE BLUE AND WHITE WITH UNDERGLAZE-COPPER-RED ‘EIGHT IMMORTALS’ SNUFF BOTTLES
20th Century
二十世纪 青花釉里红“八仙过海”鼻烟壶两件
MEASUREMENTS
1. H. 9.3 cm, 3.6 in.
2. H. 7.8 cm, 3.0 in.
ESTIMATE
USD 200— 300
The two porcelain snuff bottles are delicately potted with sturdy cylindrical bodies, each featuring a high, slightly sloping shoulder and a short, waisted neck. They are masterfully painted in vibrant underglaze blue and accented with underglaze copper-red to depict the “Eight Immortals” (Baxian) in a continuous landscape. The figures, including Zhongli Quan with his fan and Li Tieguai with his crutch, are rendered with expressive vitality amidst swirling clouds and stylized waves. One bottle is characterized by an elongated form with a taller neck, while the second is more compact with a broader body. Both vessels exhibit a smooth, lustrous glaze and are finished at the base with a recessed circle containing a classic underglaze-blue “leaf” mark (muye wen), a distinctive hallmark frequently associated with early Qing dynasty porcelain. The shoulders are further embellished with a delicate trellis or cross-hatch pattern, and both retain their matching domed porcelain covers with blue-painted scalloped motifs.
此组鼻烟壶共两件，造型规整，呈圆柱状，丰肩平底。壶身通体以青花釉里红技法绘就“八仙过海”图。人物形象生动，神态各异：钟离权袒胸露腹持扇而立，铁拐李拄杖随行，众仙或行走于山石草木间，或凌波而行，背景以青花描绘山石云气，以釉里红点染人物衣褶或瑞果，色彩对比鲜明，意境高古。两壶体量一高一矮，比例协调，釉面光润。最值得注意的是，两件烟壶底足内均绘有青花“叶纹”款。这种“木叶纹”是清康熙时期极具代表性的花押款识，既增添了器物的文人气韵，也为其断代提供了重要依据。瓶肩部饰以细密的菱格纹，配有原装青花花瓣纹瓷盖，保存完好，相映成趣。
The “Eight Immortals” are central figures in Taoist mythology, representing longevity, prosperity, and the triumph of the spirit over earthly limitations. The use of underglaze copper-red alongside underglaze blue—a technically demanding process requiring precise kiln control—was a specialty of the Kangxi imperial kilns and continued to be prized by scholars in later periods. The “leaf” mark on the base suggests a lineage linked to the high-quality non-reign marked wares of the 17th and 18th centuries, intended for the literati market. These bottles represent a sophisticated fusion of pictorial art and porcelain craftsmanship, where the miniature scale enhances the intricacy of the narrative. Such pieces were highly esteemed as gifts among the elite, serving as both functional containers for tobacco and as “conversation pieces” that celebrated classical Chinese folklore.
“八仙”题材在明清装饰艺术中长盛不衰，象征着长寿、吉祥与福泽。青花釉里红工艺对烧造气氛的要求极高，稍有偏差红色便会发黑或挥发，因此此类作品在当时便属珍品。此组烟壶底部的“木叶款”常见于康熙年间外销或内销的高端瓷器，反映了不书帝王年号而以自然图案为志的审美情趣。这两件器物将宏大的神话叙事浓缩于方寸之间，线条流畅，发色典雅，既体现了清代景德镇瓷艺工匠对火候与釉料的精准掌控，也展现了文人阶层对道教文化与隐逸精神的推崇。作为一套两件且形制相呼应的组合，具有极高的收藏与研究价值。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: Both bottles are in excellent condition. The underglaze colors remain vibrant with no signs of fading or blurring. There are no chips, cracks, or professional restorations to either the bodies or the covers. The foot rims show natural, age-appropriate wear.
• 状况: 两件烟壶品相均极佳。青花发色苍翠，釉里红沉稳而不失明快。器身及瓷盖均无崩口、裂纹或修补痕迹。底足处可见极轻微的自然磨损痕迹，符合时代特征，保存状况非常理想。