A SAPPHIRE-BLUE GLASS ‘BUDDHIST LION’ SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, MID-18TH / EARLY-19TH CENTURY

of transparent sapphire-blue glass, with one or two small air bubbles, very well hollowed, with a slightly concave lip and a recessed convex foot surrounded by a protruding flat footrim, carved with a continuous design of five Buddhist lions and two brocaded, beribboned balls set amidst rocky outcrops from which lingzhi grow, one on each narrow side; the glass stopper with a vinyl collar

Ko Collection, Tianjin, 1939.
Christie’s London, 14th June 1971, lot 19.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.
Collection of Andrew Hsueh.
Robert Hall, London, 1990.

Chinese Snuff Bottles III, Robert Hall, London, 1990, cat. no. 6.
Creditanstalt, Vienna, 1993.
Chinese Snuff Bottles: A Miniature Art from the Collection of George and Mary Bloch, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1994, cat. no.  94.
National Museum of Singapore, Singapore, 1994-1995.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 5, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 851.

The snuff bottle is in overall very good condition. The actual tone of blue is a little deeper compared to 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."

Snuff bottles of sapphire-blue glass are rarely found carved from solid blocks of glass. However, the weight, carving style, bubble stricky and lapidary hollowing of the present bottle confirm that it has been carved rather than blown. One factor governing how colours were to be treated seems to have been the desire to imitate precious materials. Beryl, aquamarine, and amethyst, for instance, could all be found in pieces large enough to permit the production of a snuff bottle, thus the corresponding colours in glass were more frequently carved from solid blocks. In contrast, relatively unflawed pieces of ruby, emerald, and sapphire of suitable proportions were seldom if ever found, so imitations of these gems in glass would have been confined to small pieces of jewellery.