The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) today (September 28) announced that Mrs Josephine Sin, the wife of the late Hong Kong collector Mr Christopher Sin, has generously donated nearly 500 pieces from the Fuyun Xuan Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles for the museum's permanent collection. This donation stands as the most extensive and comprehensive of its kind ever received by a museum in Hong Kong. The donation would immensely enrich the HKMoA's Chinese Antiquities collection, solidifying its status as a leading centre for the collection and study of Chinese artefacts. The HKMoA will launch a special exhibition in 2024, featuring the entirety of this significant donation. The museum will also establish a permanent display for this donation.

     The Fuyun Xuan Collection, an important private collection in Hong Kong, was established by Mr Sin in 1989 and is now recognised as one of the most important private collections of snuff bottles in the world. This generous donation from Mr Sin's lifelong collection encompasses a wide array of pieces in various forms, materials, designs and craftsmanship, encapsulating the essence of Chinese snuff bottle artistry in its resplendent breadth and depth.

     Mr Sin was an active member of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society and was known for his tireless dedication to promoting the collection of snuff bottles. Within the collection is a double-gourd-shaped glass snuff bottle with floral design in painted enamels on yellow ground, which Mr Sin insisted on acquiring even in his final days, showcasing his deep fascination with snuff bottles and earning him the nickname "Snuff Bottle Enthusiast" among other collectors. Mr Sin actively participated in organising exhibitions all over the world to make his remarkable collection accessible to a wider public. In the spirit of his generosity, this donation has provided the public a rare opportunity to appreciate these precious cultural gems.

     In the 17th century, the introduction of snuff into China led to the emergence of small bottles for holding snuff, which gained popularity throughout the Qing dynasty and evolved from practical vessels into fashionable icons of exquisite craft. The small and delicate snuff bottle encompasses a wide range of craftsmanship and materials, including jade, porcelain, glassware, lacquerware, calabash, enamelware, and inside-painted varieties, making it a miniature embodiment of Chinese art and craft history.

Ends/Thursday, September 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:15

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