A JET DOUBLE SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY

Collection of Kurt Graf Blucher von Wahlstatt.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.
Christie’s London, 6th December 1993, lot 231.

Robert Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, British Museum, London, 1995, cat. no. 328.
Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1997.

Hugh Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, p. 94, no. 148.
Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 7, Hong Kong, 2009, no. 1601.

A small chip from the outer lip and a further smaller nibble. Scratches on the foot and both main panels. Smaller scratches and surface abrasions from use.
"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."

With many double snuff bottles, the two containers are of different shape, colour, or decoration, helping the snuffer remember which bottle contained which variety of snuff. In the case of a bottle such as this, however, where the two halves are indistinguishable, common sense tells us that having stoppers of two different colours would accomplish the same purpose. That would seem to be the case here.