Lot 1131
  • 1131

An Aquamarine Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 HKD
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Description

Provenance

Harriet Hamilton.
Chimiles Collection.

Literature

Hamilton, 1977, p. 49, no. S-5.
Moss et al., 1996-2009, vol. 3, no. 412.

Condition

Good condition. The irregularity to the surface is from natural internal flaws.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This exquisite miniature is from the best colour of aquamarine available to the Chinese in specimens this size and exhibits the distinctive palace hollowing that follows the outer profile exactly until it gets to the foot, where enough material is left intact to create a heavy base for stability. There is enough indication of this phenomenon on jade bottles attributable to the court to assume that it is an imperial style, even if not exclusively. It was a practical choice for bottles that were likely to be put on shelves to serve as handy dispensers of snuff rather than being carried safely in a pouch or sleeve, but for bottles made of transparent material it was conceivably an aesthetic choice as well. When a transparent bottle was filled with snuff, the contours of the inner walls played a greater role in the design, and a thicker base was visually more satisfying. It is possible to even suggest tentatively that it was with transparent materials that this style of hollowing developed, to be extended to opaque materials only later.