A FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN ‘DOVES’ SNUFF BOTTLE, IMPERIAL, DAOGUANG MARK & PERIOD Porcelain with fine enamel painting in slight relief. China, Daoguang four-character mark in iron-red seal script an of the period, 1821-1850Finely painted with a continuous scene of two pairs of doves amidst orchid plants and bamboo.“The present example belongs to a group of finely painted bottles from the Daoguang period which were made in sets for the Court to distribute as gifts. It is decorated with pairs of doves on both sides, although it was not uncommon for some bottles to be painted with doves on one side, and Pekinese dogs on the other. It would appear that the Daoguang Emperor and his consort were fond of doves and small dogs, respectively, so the two subjects were popular on Imperial snuff bottles of the period. According to Geoffrey R. Sayer (Tao Ya or Pottery Refinements, London, 1959, p. 123, no. 722), "Cheng Miao [the Daoguang Emperor] was fond of pigeons; his exalted concubine was fond of little dogs. That is why many of the dishes of the period have pictures of these two creatures." Paired doves, like other paired creatures, suggest conjugal bliss. As a rule, one of the creatures is light and one dark, presumably to mirror the yin/yang balance. This is certainly one of the more effective and successful decorative designs of the Imperial kilns, with the simplicity of the shapes of the doves set against the grassy ground.” @ Christies, see literature comparison.Shape: Compressed spherical form Hollowing: StandardMouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with flat top and symmetric mouthBase: Oval convex base with raised flat foot rimDesign, marks, school: Imperial, Jingdezhen KilnsStopper: Agate with bronze mountingHeight of the bottle with stopper: 6.5 cm.Width of the mouth: 7 mm.Width of the neck: 18 mm.Condition: Excellent condition, with a minuscule firing line to foot rim and minor wearProvenance: Stephen Max Kellen, founder of the American Academy in Berlin; THE ANNA-MARIA AND STEPHEN KELLEN FOUNDATION, NEW YORKLiterature comparison: CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM TWO PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTIONS. Bonhams, New York, March 14th, 2016, lot 6001, from the Marcia J. Howard Collection. (for a similar bottle, yet with Pekinese dogs on the reverse) The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles. Christies, New York, September 19th, 2007, lot 619. (for an almost identical bottle) The J & J Collection. Christies, New York, March 29th, 2006, lot 15. (for a bottle with very similar design) Snuff Bottles. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, p. 227, no. 348. (for another example decorated with a pair of doves on one side and a pair of Pekinese dogs on the reverse)道光款與年代皇家粉彩陶瓷“鴿子“鼻烟壺品相極好，足部邊緣有一道細微裂縫，些微磨損柏林美國學院創始人史蒂文∙馬克斯∙ 科冷Stephen Max Kellen；紐約安娜∙ 瑪利亞與史蒂文∙馬克斯∙ 科冷基金會史蒂文∙馬克斯∙ 科冷