Chinese Porcelain 'Beauties of Jinling' Snuff Bottle Set
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A set of twelve Chinese porcelain 'Beauties of Jinling' snuff bottles, the set of cylindrical bottles with gilt stoppers, each depicting one of the twelve beauties from the Chinese 18th century classic novel Hongloumeng (Dream of the Red Chamber) in outdoor landscapes, finely enamel painted on crackle ground, the reverse with accompanying colophon and artist mark, each bearing Qianlong four-character mark to the underside, in fitted presentation case, height 8 cm
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- Crackling and Crackle as a Decorative Technique - Crackle, also known as crackling, is a decorative technique that has been used in China for centuries. It is believed to have originated during the Song Dynasty (960?1279 AD) and was primarily used in the production of ceramics, lacquerware, and furniture. The crackling effect was achieved by applying a glaze or lacquer that was formulated to crack during firing, creating a crackled pattern on the surface of the item.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368?1644 AD), crackle became a highly sought-after decorative technique, and it was used to create intricate and beautiful designs on ceramics and lacquer ware.
In Western decorative arts, crackle / crackling came into use during the Art Nouveau movement in the late 19th and early 20th century. The crackling effect was used to create a sense of movement and fluidity in the design of Art Nouveau pieces.
It was also used in the 1920s and 1930s during the Art Deco movement. - Crackles / Cracquelure - In ceramics, crackles may be introduced intentionally during the firing process, as was often the case with Oriental ceramics, and are known as artificial crackles. Natural crackles occur with age, and if the glaze is transparent, may be difficult to detect. Natural crackles may not cover the whole surface of the object and may be uneven in size.
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