A CARVED AQUAMARINE SNUFF BOTTLE

of slender tapering rectangular form, with shoulders sloping to a waisted neck, and supported on a concave oval foot, finely carved in low relief with archaistic motifs of confronting qilong, a taotie mask at the center of each face, the striated crystal of an even sky-blue color

Phillips London, 8th June 1994, lot 405.

The bottle is in good overall condition and the carving is very crisp. There are natural fissures and inclusions to the stone, particularly one visible on the interior of the neck.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present bottle, with its elegant shape and sophisticated carving, is characteristic of 18th century Imperial style. While the 19th century experienced a surge in demand for semi-precious stones such as aquamarine, a small group was made in the late 18th century, as evidenced by the 1799 inventory of Heshen, the prime minister to the Qianlong emperor, who collected over 1,400 hardstone snuff bottles, of which 300 were said to be gem-stone examples.

A similarly tall and slender bottle, carved with Shoulao, is illustrated in Robert Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles: The White Wings Collection, Hong Kong, 1997, pl. 134, p. 194. Another bottle, carved with naturalistic depictions of dragon and phoenix among peonies, was sold in these rooms, 25th October 1997, lot 106 and is currently in The Crane Collection.