Description
Description: Chinese snuff bottle of cylindrical shape, decorated over glaze with nine Fu dogs in overglaze iron red enamel, with the eyes enhanced by black enamel. The decoration of this bottle is of very fine quality, but what is relevant is also the mark on the base, which actually is not a mark, as explained below. It is the only bottle at my knowledge where an inscription related to the subject of the bottle is disguised in form of a mark.
Mark: The mark on the base reads “Jiu Shì Tóng Ju (九獅同居)”, which literally means Nine Lions Living Together. However, as the Chinese pronunciation for Lions (獅) is the same as Generations (世), it has the hidden meaning of “May you have nine generations together”, a wish for longevity. Thus the hidden message is “九世同居”.
Dating: 19th century
Material: Porcelain, glazed also inside
Size: 77 mm high
Stopper: Pink glass with bone spoon
Provenance: Mario Dalmazzo Collection
References:
Notes: About Mario Dalmazzo Collection, see bottle C8
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