C44 A fine “Phoenix and wutong” snuff bottle

Description

Description:   Chinese snuff bottle of tapered cylindrical form, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and copper red with a phoenix perched on a rock, under a wutong tree and the Sun.

Mark:

Dating:  19^th century

Material:  Porcelain, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and copper red

Size:  82 mm high

Stopper:  Jade stopper with red glass collar and ivory spoon

Provenance:  Antiquarian market

References:

Notes:  The underglaze copper red is notoriously difficult to fire. Depending on correct temperature and the quantity of oxygen in kiln’s atmosphere, the color can either turn out red, greenish or brownish or a mixing of those colors. This bottle has been masterfully fired, obtaining the red for the phoenix and the brown for the leaves of the tree, all on the same piece, which is really difficult.

According to Terese Tse Bartholomew, the phoenix (feng) singing under a Chinese parasol tree (wutong) with a rising Sun, means “Red phoenix paying homage to the Sun” (danfeng zhaoyang) because red refers to Cinnabar Cave, abode of the phoenix, which opens toward the Sun. The Sun symbolizes the Yang or male principle of brightness and warmth, as well as righteousness and promotion. This auspicious motif symbolizes all the good things in life.