AN INSCRIBED CHALCEDONY 'FISHERMEN' SNUFF BOTTLE, SUZHOU, SCHOOL OF ZHITING, QING DYNASTY

AN INSCRIBED CHALCEDONY 'FISHERMEN' SNUFF BOTTLE, SUZHOU, SCHOOL OF ZHITING, QING DYNASTY Chalcedony. Of bluish-grey tone, with several areas of caramel and some dark brown inclusions, and a silky flat finish. China, Suzhou, 1750-1850School of Zhiting. Masterly carved to depict an all-round scene with two fishermen, one carrying his fresh catch home, the other with his fishing pole on a riverbank, smiling, with two (!) fish already bitten into the hook. Two more fishermen are seen in a small boat. Trees, rockwork and clouds contribute further depth to the picture. The inscription comes in four characters and high relief, using darker inclusions in the stone.Inscription (translated): In the latter half of the second month in YunzhouShape: Bulbous round formHollowing: GoodMouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with convex top and broad mouth, sprawling inner cylinderBase: Flat ovalStopper: Carved coral resting on a mother of pearl platelet, stained ivory spoonHeight of the bottle with stopper: 6.3 cmWidth of the mouth: 8 mmWidth of the neck: 21 mmCondition: PerfectProvenance: American Private CollectionLiterature comparison: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby’s, November 24th 2014, HONG KONG, lot 7. (for another inscribed Zhiting School bottle) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, lots 569, 571, 572, 574, 577 and 582. (for various inscribed Suzhou bottles).Expertise: Alexander Zacke玉髓雕提詞魚翁鼻煙壺, 蘇州, 芝亭流派, 清代灰藍色玉髓帶紫色與咖啡色處, 平絲磨光.中國, 蘇州, 1750–1850年芝亭流派. 巧妙地雕成兩位魚翁圖. 小船裡加上兩位魚翁, 周圍描繪樹、岩、雲等山水細節. 用濃色石成提詞四個字.形狀：球形掏膛：良善瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 短圓柱頸, 突出頭, 寬口, 內部圓柱展開底足：平橢圓蓋: 雕珊瑚在珍珠母片上, 點牙雕勺高（帶蓋）：6.3厘米口徑：0.8厘米頸部直徑：2.1厘米狀態敘述：完善來源：美國私人舊藏文獻: Snuff Bottles from the Mary & George Bloch Collection: Part IX. Sotheby’s, 2014 年11月24日, HONG KONG, 編號7. Bob C. Stevens, 《中國鼻煙壺收藏指南》, 編號569, 571, 572, 574, 577 與582.