A superb and very rare carved and inlaid amber snuff bottle, Tansan, Japan, 1854-1910

Of well-hollowed, flattened form with irregular flat lip and recessed, irregular foot, carved with a continuous design of a five-clawed dragon amidst turbulent clouds, its mouth opening as it lunges toward one pearl while firmly clutching another in its right fore-claws, the beast's eyes inlaid with mother-of-pearl with jet pupils, the foot incised in draft script with the signature Tansan, original amber stopper with pearl finial and mother-of-pearl collar
3 in. (9.4 cm.) high - Estimate : $90,000 - $120,000

Provenance : Parrish-Watson and Co.
Martin Schoen
Ralph M. Hults
Edward Choate O'Dell
John Gilmore Ford

Literature : Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles of the 17th and 18th Centuries from the Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Martin Scheon, no. 76
Arts of Asia, November-December 1976, p. 31
B. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, nos. 718 and 719 J. Ford, Chinese Snuff Bottles. The Edward Choate O'Dell Collection, no. 68
JICSBS, Autumn 1992, front and back covers
Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Vol. 2, no. 300
JICSBS, Autumn 1996, p. 8, fig. 13

Exhibited : China Institute in America, New York, December 1952-1953
The Asia House Gallery, New York, November 1982
Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory,
New York, 2003

Notes : This sumptuous bottle is part of a group of four snuff bottles signed by the enigmatic Japanese master Tansan, whose identity is otherwise unknown, but who worked in Japan during the second half of the nineteenth century and first decade of the twentieth century. Another amber bottle formerly from the J & J Collection, also bearing his signature, was sold in these rooms, 22 March 2007, lot 3, along with an unsigned example attributed to the master, also from the J & J Collection and sold in these rooms, 29 March 2006, lot 4. Like the present bottle, these two are exceptionally well carved from amber and have a similar irregular, recessed foot with broad, flat rim.

While there has been considerable debate as to the origins of this group of bottles signed by Tansan, the high standard of technical quality, combined with a high degree of realism and the use of inlays and embellishment, the asymmetrically placed signature typical of Meiji art, and the individual signature without a reign mark, all confirm the now accepted Japanese source for the group.

Of the entire group, this is undoubtedly the most spectacular example, with its inspired use of real pearls, and combination of stunning material and design.

Christie's. Important Chinese Snuff bottles from the J&J Collection,part V. 17 September 2008. New York, Rockefeller Plaza. www.christies.com