A RUBY-RED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Robert Kleiner, London, 1990. 

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. 83.
National Museum of Singapore, Singapore, 1994-5.

Viviane Jutheau, Guide du collectionneur de tabatières chinoises, Paris, 1980, p. 60, no. 1, left.
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. 792.

There is an area of polishing on the lip, either from a chip or burst air bubble. There are also bubbles, some burst at the surface, including one to the outer lip. The snuff bottle is otherwise in overall 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."

Whatever its origins, this is a delightful form, fascinating and satisfying from any angle. It does stand upright without support, but among a hoard of stands collected by Moss over the past forty years a small gold one was discovered that fitted this bottle. Although now having the means to remain upright, originally it was almost certainly not intended to stand. The snuff-bottle foot seems to have been a standard feature from the very beginning, but bottles without a foot, including naturalistic shapes, must have gone hand in hand with the footed variety throughout the Qing dynasty.

The material here is of a particularly lovely ruby-red, both bright and clear.

Nothing about the form helps us to narrow the dating range, but we suspect that a Qianlong date is likely, while a Yongzheng one remains possible.