PROBABLY IMPERIAL, PROBABLY PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1750-1799

Details

**A CARVED WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE
PROBABLY IMPERIAL, PROBABLY PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1750-1799
Of flattened form with flat lip and recessed, concave oval foot, the stone of even, white tone, carved on each main side with a pair of horses, one side with an inscription Qianlong Yuzhi ('Made by Imperial Command of the Qianlong Emperor'), with one seal shou ('longevity') and a second blank seal, the other main side with a pair of grazing horses beneath an eight-character inscription, jadeite stopper with tourmaline finial
2 in. (6.31 cm.) high

Provenance

Christie's, London, 4 December 1995, lot 347

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

The inscription may be translated as:

Admire how they go together
To drink at the flowing stream.

It is not unusual for a Qianlong jade snuff bottle to have a blank seal - this would have been filled in by the recipient of the bottle.

The Qianlong Emperor's passion for jade prompted a massive output of art works in the material, including snuff bottles. The flawless material, understated refinement, perfectly controlled carving and wide mouth and flat lip of this bottle support a confident attribution to the Beijing palace workshops. The manner in which the horses and serrated rocks have been carved also bring to mind agate carvings of the Official School, many of which were probably made at the Court.

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