清乾隆 / 嘉慶 寶石藍料螭龍紋鼻煙壺

Robert Chow 收藏，香港，1978年
Guo'an 收藏，編號238
香港蘇富比2000年10月30日，編號505

Ann Kreuger，〈Kinesiska snusflaskor〉，《Antik & Auktion》，1989年10月，頁64
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833

Apart from some occasional trapped air bubbles, the overall condition is very good. The actual colour is slightly more greenish than the catalogue illustration.
"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 distinctive and rare colour range represented by this bottle links it to another small group, including Sale 5, lot 128 and one from the Franz Collection bearing a facsimile of a poem by the Ming painter Tang Yin 唐寅 (1470 – 1523) copied by the emperor in 1793 (Franz 2011, no. 439). An attribution to the imperial glassworks for the entire group is sensible.

The style of carving of the chi dragons here would accord well with a mid- to late Qianlong dating, although a broader date range has been allowed as on Sale 5, lot 128. There is the slightest hint of an undulating ground plane, showing some carving marks, but the carving of the relief plane is excellent, with dragons as vital and fluently depicted as one would expect of what is surely an imperial carving from the height of the Qing glass-carvers’ art. The vibrant, unusual colour is as impressive as ever, this example representing the darker end of the range for this distinctive peacock-blue.