Chinese inside painted cut glass snuff bottle, signed Ding…
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Chinese inside painted cut glass snuff bottle, signed ding Erzhong (1865-1935), dated 1916, painted in grisaille with erotic scenes to the front and verso. Height 8 cm

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  • Grisaille -
    Decorative painting in monochrome, usually shades of grey, olive green or buff, painted on wood, plaster, ceramic or stone surfaces to imitate marble figural sculpture or relief ornament.


    Grisaille, from the French "gris", or grey (colour) is a painting technique in which a monochrome image is created using only shades of gray, black and white, usually created by using a gray underpainting or a limited colour palette. It is often used to create the illusion of sculpture or relief on a flat surface, and was commonly used during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

    The technique of grisaille has been used in decorative arts for centuries. It was commonly used in the Renaissance and Baroque periods in Europe to create the illusion of sculptural relief on flat surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and furniture. This technique allowed artists to create the illusion of depth and dimensionality without the use of colour.

    During the Rococo period, grisaille was often used in the production of ceramics and porcelain to create finely detailed designs on a white or light-colored surface.

    In the 19th century, grisaille continued to be used in decorative arts, particularly in the production of ceramics, both Western and Oriental.

  • Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
  • Chinese Ding Porcelain - Ding ware is a type of Chinese porcelain that was produced in the northern city of Ding in the Hebei province during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is considered to be one of the "Five Great Kilns" of Chinese ceramics, along with Jian, Jun, Guan, and Ru wares.

    Ding ware is known for its fine white porcelain body, which was made from kaolin clay, and its elegant shapes and designs. The glaze on Ding ware is usually transparent and has a bluish-white or grayish-white color. It was often decorated with underglaze blue or iron-brown designs.

    Ding ware was highly prized during the Song Dynasty, and it was exported throughout Asia and as far as the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It was also an inspiration for other porcelain-making centers in China and Japan. The production of Ding ware declined after the Song Dynasty, and it is now considered to be a rare and valuable collectible.

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