清十八世紀 寶石紅料磨花八方鼻煙壺

Robert Kleiner，倫敦，1994年

Hugh Moss、Victor Graham 及曾嘉寶，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，卷5，香港，2002年，編號803

Tiny chip on the hexagonal foot. A smaller chip on one of the side facets. Numerous suface and scratches and abrasions from wear.
"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."

Formally this represents an almost exact equivalent of lot 116in the present sale, but in ruby red, and many of the same comments apply. It is of the same simple, compressed spherical form with superimposed faceting as Sale 7, lot 42, its concavities clearly being intended as snuff dishes.

Technically, this bottle is also extremely similar to lot 116 in the present sale. Both exhibit the rather eccentric faceting seen on Sale 7, lot 42, and the detailing here is slightly rudimentary, which is believed would have been inevitable with very large orders so frequently placed for snuff bottles to be given away as gifts.

A possible indication of an early date here may be found in the few scattered air bubbles, one or two of which are sufficiently large to be clearly visible to the naked eye. It may be reasonable to date both this and lot 116 to the earlier phase of imperial faceting, and the similar material here, with its large, irregular air bubbles, might even suggest a production date prior to the 1727 admonition from the Yongzheng emperor to exorcise European style from the products of the glassworks. It is equally likely to have been made a little later, however, during the early Qianlong reign.  

The state of natural wear, which is extensive, would suggest considerable age, although, as it has been pointed out elsewhere, while extensive wear on a series of similar bottles may be a convincing dating guide, extensive wear on an individual bottle may not be.