Lot 194

[PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION] TWO CHINESE INSIDE-PAINTED 'LADIES' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES

YE ZHONGSAN (1875-1945) AND YE FAMILY STUDIO, DATED 1902 & 1947

Fine Asian Works of Art

Auction: 06 November 2026 from 10:00 GMT

Estimate: £500 - £700

Description

葉仲三 1902年（壬寅）玻璃內畫仕女圖及葉仲三款（葉氏家族）1947年（丁亥）玻璃雕吉祥紋飾內畫仕女圖鼻煙壺（共兩件）

one of compressed pear form, painted on both sides with ladies, dated to Ren Yin year, corresponding to 1902AD, with a green stopper; the other of compressed globular form, carved in low relief on both exterior with auspicious emblems borne on ribbons, painted on both sides with figures, dated to Ding Hai year, corresponding to 1947AD, with a translucent blue, both with signature and seal of the artist (2)

Dimensions

largest: 7cm high without stopper

Provenance

Private English collection, London; inherited from the artist Lottie Davis, by repute gifted to her by the Office of the Chargé d’Affaires in Beijing in the mid-20th century.

英格蘭私人收藏，倫敦；繼承自藝術家洛蒂・戴維斯（Lottie Davis），據傳其於20世紀中葉由北京大使館贈予。

Footnote

Ye Zhongsan (1875–1945) was a renowned Beijing master of inside-painted snuff bottles and one of the leading artists of the late Qing dynasty to Republic Period. He was known for his broad range of subjects, including figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, insects, and scenes from classical literature. His works are distinguished by their strong, vivid colours, lively compositions and refined brushwork, earning him a reputation for being both elegant and accessible. Alongside Zhou Leyuan and Ma Shaoxuan, he is regarded as one of the foremost masters of the Beijing school of inside-painted snuff bottles. The art of Ye Zhongsan was subsequently continued by his sons, who helped transmit and develop the Ye school of inside painting and influenced later generations of artists.