IP21 A “Herd crossing the bridge” snuff bottle, Suo Zhenhai

Description

Description:  Chinese glass snuff bottle, painted inside by the modern artist Suo Zhenhai (1944 – 2006).

The scene on one side is showing herdsmen riding horses and cattle while crossing a bridge over a falling stream. The scene is connected to that of the other side, a typical Shanshui scene of mountains and waters with scholars. The inscription on the first side is the signature of Suo Zhenhai and the date of autumn, 1979, while on the other side the inscription say that it was done on 10th day of the ninth month, 1979, in Central Ji Province.

Mark:  No marks

Dating:  1979

Material:  Transparent colorless glass

Size: 71 mm high

Stopper:  No stopper

Provenance:  Antiquarian market

References:

Notes:  What is interesting about the painting of this bottle is the multicolor palette, which is odd for the commonly known Suo Zhenhai works, characterized by a limited palette (see for example our bottles IP9 and IP18). This, together with the signed date, are telling us that it is one of his earlier works.