Beschreibung:

A RARE INSIDE PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE BY YIRU JUSHI ink and watercolors, the very well hollowed crystal of spade-shape tapering to a slightly concave base, brilliantly incorporating the amethyst inclusion on one face with a carving of a boy crouched over a dog, the boy holding a large leaf carved in low-relief on the crystal, below a meandering pine tree, painted on the interior in grisaille with chrysanthemum blooms issuing from rockwork, a seven-character horizontal inscription above yi pian bing xin zhai yu hu ('Chasteness is seen through a jade bottle'), followed below by a six-character inscription fang shi tian zhi fa ye ('In the style of Shitian'), inscribed Zhong Chang, the reverse with further inscription in various calligraphy styles, carved with a raised oval seal feng liu ('style') and two square seals ming shi ('famous stone'), signed Yun Feng, Ban Shang, dated dingmao, summer (corresponding to 1807 or 1867) height 2 1/8 in., 5.4 cm SIGNED AND DATED, SUMMER 1807 OR 1867