A RUBY-RED OVERLAY GLASS 'PROSPERITY' SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28th October 1992, lot 298.

Robert Kleiner, Boda Yang, and Clarence F. Shangraw, Chinese Snuff Bottles: A Miniature Art from the Collection of George and Mary Bloch, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1994, cat. no. 103.
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. 888.

What appears to be a tiny flake repair to one petal of the central flower on one narrow side? Otherwise, 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 temptation to attribute this example to the imperial glassworks is based on two main features it possesses that suggest a link to the court—in addition to the use of ruby-red glass, which may have been confined to court production during the earlier part of the eighteenth century. These are the rope border and circular panels of decoration. The ground and overlay colours are both very similar to Sale 6, lot 240, providing further endorsement of the attribution.

The design is rare among glass snuff bottles and, while rather formal, is impressive, exquisitely well carved, and certainly comparable with other bottles attributed to the earlier part of the Qianlong period. The ground plane likewise displays the impeccable integrity would be expected of an early date. While the first half of the Qianlong period must remain its most likely date, it might have been made as late as the mid-reign.