A Jadeite Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

Robert Hall, London, 1985.

Moss et al., 1996-2009, vol. 1, no. 174.

It is 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 material here is unique among jadeite snuff bottles in being of almost crystal-like clarity. Its remarkable transparency is such that it is just possible to distinguish boldly printed text through the entire width of the bottle. It is of a somewhat similar colour to Sale 1, lot 17, although less obviously blue here because of its greater transparency. The stone is suffused with ice-like markings that resemble those more frequently found in crystal and with a few dendritic inclusions of bluish-green on one main side.

The extraordinary hollowing relates it to a group of similar bottles from the mid-Qing period and is achieved here through an unusually wide mouth, a common alternative to the narrow mouth of some of the group. The hollowing appears to be of still greater virtuosity than it is because of the transparency of the material. It is not as thinly hollowed as Sale 1, lot 59, which represents for this group—and indeed for any hardstone snuff bottle—virtuosity carried to a seemingly almost impossible extreme. In common with all of these bottles, it is a delight in the hand and its wide mouth gives it considerable appeal. With the stopper removed, these large mouths allow one to enjoy the interior form almost as much as its exterior counterpart.