λ A CHINESE INTERIOR-PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL 'LIU HAI' SNUFF BOTTLE

λ A CHINESE INTERIOR-PAINTED ROCK CRYSTAL 'LIU HAI' SNUFF BOTTLE
DATED 1896

Dated the bingshen year, decorated with Liu Hai holding a string of cash and a three-legged toad, the reverse with a calligraphic description of the scene, signed Ma Shaoxuan, 6.4cm.

WITHOUT RESERVE
本拍品不設底價。

Provenance: from an English private collection, with a copy of an invoice for The Little Shop, dated 6th April 1960.

丙申（1896年） 馬少宣作玻璃內題詩劉海戲蟾鼻煙壺
題識：丙申仲春，赤腳蓬頭不計年，
十洲三島任蹁躚，
蓬萊久隔人間世，常伴金蟾會眾仙。
於京師作，馬少宣。
來源：英國私人收藏，1960年4月6日購於香港天和行古玩玉器 （附發票複印件）。

Ma Shaoxuan (1867–1939), one of the most technically accomplished artists of the Beijing School of Snuff Bottle Painting, is known for his figural scenes, monochromatic portraits, and depictions of collections of fragmentary paintings and calligraphic inscriptions, on his snuff bottles.