Crystal snuff bottle with inside-painted scene of the Qiao sisters
Ma Shaoxuan, Crystal snuff bottle with inside-painted scene of the Qiao sisters, 1895, bottle: crystal; stopper: coral, with a double collar of yellow glass and green-stained ivory, Gift of Maybelle Clark Macdonald, public domain, 2009.59.22
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
Crystal snuff bottle with inside-painted scene of the Qiao sisters
- Artist
- Date
1895
- Medium
bottle: crystal; stopper: coral, with a double collar of yellow glass and green-stained ivory
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
3 in x 1 5/8 in x 5/8 in
- Collection Area
Asian Art
- Category
Snuff Bottles
- Object Type
snuff bottle
- Culture
Chinese
- Credit Line
Gift of Maybelle Clark Macdonald
- Accession Number
2009.59.22
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
Ma Shaoxuan is one of the most famous masters of inside-painted snuff bottles. In this masterpiece, he depicts two legendary beauties from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a fictional account of events in third-century China.
The beautifully written inscription on the reverse of the bottle can be translated as:
The general [Sun Ce] and the officer [Zhou Yu] of the You River area are distinguished heroes The two [Qiao] sisters (their wives) are gaining in fame Happily, they are not locked in the Bronze Sparrow Tower From dusk to dawn they can sing while overlooking Xiling.
Made in Beijing [by] Ma Shaoxuan. Winter 1895.
- Exhibitions
2009 Private Passions: Snuff Bottles and Ceramic Jarlets Portland Art Museum
