AN ARCHAISTIC RUBY-RED OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE IMPERIAL GLASSWORKS, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of transparent, streaky ruby-red and slightly milky glass, suffused with air bubbles of various sizes, including many elongated ones, with a flat lip and recessed convex foot surrounded by a protruding flat footrim; carved as a single overlay with an identical design on each main side of an elongated archaistic bi disc, carved with archaistic C-scrolls and raised bosses, attached to and framed by tied ropes and surrounded by four raised bosses, the ropes continuing onto the narrow sides; the jadeite stopper with a vinyl collar

Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., 1983.
Collection of Gerd Lester, 1986.

Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch at the Galleries of Sydney L. Moss, Ltd., Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1987, cat. no. 91.
Creditanstalt, Vienna, 1993.

Robert Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong, 1994, p. 26, fig. 3.1.
Carol Michaelson, 'The Use of Archaism as a Decorative Motif in Snuff Bottles', Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Winter 2000, p. 9, fig. 22.
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. 887.

The footrim has possibly been slightly trimmed on one side (marginally narrower than the other); there is one area of rope border above the footrim on one main side that has been slightly reduced and recarved to remove a chip, not obtrusive. The snuff bottle is otherwise in good condition.
"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."

The carved rope borders on the present bottle derived from Han dynasty bronzes, and are commonly found on works of art for the court and appear on a range of imperial jade carvings, including snuff bottles. Such rope borders, derived from Han bronzes in the imperial collection, are common on court works of art and appear on a range of imperial jade carvings, including snuff bottles. See a Qianlong mark and period yellow jade bottle, similarly worked with rope borders, from the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 23^rd November 2010, lot 24.