Lot 197

[PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION] TWO CHINESE INSIDE-PAINTED 'DREAMS OF THE RED CHAMBER' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES

YE ZHONGSAN (1875-1945), ONE DATED 1925

Fine Asian Works of Art

Auction: 06 November 2026 from 10:00 GMT

Estimate: £800 - £1,200

Description

葉仲三其一1925年（乙丑）玻璃內畫紅樓夢圖鼻煙壺（共兩件）

both of compressed rounded rectangular form, one painted on one side with a scene depicting Xue Baochai holding a fan, the reverse depicting Jia Baoyu with Jia Mu, dated to Yi Chou year, corresponding to 1925AD, with a green stopper; the other painted on one side with the first scene as above, the reverse with Jia Baoyu and Jin Suo, undated, with a green stopper, both with signature and seal of the artist (2)

Dimensions

largest 6.2cm 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.

The scenes on these snuff bottles are taken from Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢, Hong Lou Meng), by Cao Xueqin (1715–1763). Written during the Qing dynasty, the novel follows the rise and decline of the wealthy Jia family, focusing on the relationships between Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. Renowned for its richly drawn characters and detailed portrayal of elite Qing society, it explores themes of love, family, social status, and the transience of life.

Compare to two inside-painted ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ snuff bottles by Ye Zhongsan, one dated 1930, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 24 November 2013, lot 323; the other dated 1936, sold at same saleroom as above, 26 May 2013, lot 179.