AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS ‘PLAYING CATS’ SNUFF BOTTLE, MA SHAOXUAN(the larger companion to the

AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS ‘PLAYING CATS’ SNUFF BOTTLE, MA SHAOXUAN(the larger companion to the following lot) Glass. China, dated 1899Expressive high-contrast painting of two playing cats in the grass. Titled “A Picture of a Double Joy”. Verso a poem in five lines and 36 characters. Signed Ma Shaoxuan. Seal Shaoxuan.Inscription (translated): In the year 1899, in the month of chrysanthemums. Spring night, one hour worth a thousand in gold; pure scent of flowers, shadowy moon. Flute song from the high tower, sound soft, soft; swing in the courtyard, night heavy, heavy (a quotation from the poem "Spring Night" by the Song dynasty poet and scholar Su Dongpo). Done while working as an apprentice in Beijing. Ma ShaoxuanSeal: Shaoxuan Shape: Flattened rectangular form with rounded shouldersHollowing: StandardMouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with flat top and small mouthBase: Oval with raised foot rimStopper: Coral with nice patina and bronze mounting, remainders of fire gildingHeight of the bottle with stopper: 6.8 cmWidth of the mouth: 5 mmWidth of the neck: 16 mmCondition: PerfectProvenance: Hugh M. Moss (old labels to base). Amercian Private collectionLiterature comparison: The National Palace Museum of Taipei, Lifting the Spirit and Body: The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, lot III-109. (for an almost identical bottle) Hugh M. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, lot 342 (Moss describes the animals as ‘Siberian Tigers’ - the bottle is almost identical) SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY & GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART VIII. Sotheby’s, May 26 2014, HONG KONG, lot 1135. (for an almost identical bottle).Expertise: Alexander Zacke玻璃內畫貓戲圖鼻煙壺, 馬少宣款(跟下面小一點的鼻煙壺成對)玻璃中國, 約1900 年畫兩貓草間戲圖, 活躍如生, 題雙歡圖三個字. 背面提詩36字. 馬少宣款與印形狀：平面長方形, 肩部成圓形掏膛：標準瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 圓柱頸, 平頭, 小口底足：橢圓, 足邊突出蓋: 古雅珊瑚在金屬坐, 幾處剩餘鑲金高（帶蓋）：6.8厘米口徑：0.5厘米頸部直徑：1.6厘米狀態敘述：完善來源：Hugh M. Moss (舊收藏標籤在底). 美國私人舊藏文獻: The National Palace Museum of Taipei, Lifting the Spirit and Body: The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, 編號III-109. Hugh M. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, 編號342. SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY & GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART VIII. Sotheby’s, 2014年5月26日, HONG KONG, 編號1135.