TABATIERE EN LAPIS LAZULI CHINE, POSSIBLEMENT IMPERIAL, 1720-1820

le bouchon en métal sculpté et ajouré d'un dragon

Good condition. Minor suface wear, the actual colour is slightly more yellow than on the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Court records from 1723 - 1748 show that snuff bottles in lapis were made for the Court, but only in small quantities, see Masterpieces of Snuff Bottles in the Palace Museum, p.29. Since several known Yongzheng Imperial snuff bottles are reasonably small and exquisitely well formed, it is possible that this is one of the earlier known examples. It is not of the normal colour range found in the majority published from the Imperial collection, which again may suggest a separate manufacture from the standard Imperial bottles which exist today in the Imperial Collection.

A very close example was sold in our New York  Rooms, 23 March 2004, lot 179.
Compare with the bottles illustrated by Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol.3, no.414 and 415.
See also Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991, p. 263, no. 394 and 400.