1730-1820

Details

**A SUPERBLY CARVED WHITE AND RUSSET JADE PEBBLE SNUFF BOTTLE
1730-1820
Of asymmetrical rounded-rectangular form, fluidly carved to one side with a single sinuous chilong, the reverse and one narrow side with deep, intense areas of russet skin suggesting clouds from which the dragon emerges, tourmaline stopper with jadeite collar
2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) high

Provenance

Honor Smith
Hugh Moss

Literature

Snuff Bottles of the Ch'ing Dynasty, p. 102, no. 166
Moss et. al., The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, vol. 1, no. 41

Exhibited

Hugh M. Moss Ltd., London, September 1974
Hong Kong Museum of Art, October 1978
Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, 2003
Poly Art Museum, Beijing, 2003

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

With its elegantly flowing body, the extraordinary chi dragon decorating this spectacular bottle is carved with immense personality and fluidity. Its placement and positioning combined with the parallel arcing of the two faces and the refined and understated use of the russet skin all attest to the extraordinary vision and talent of a master carver. The centuries of wear from extensive handling have endowed the powerfully sculpted stone with an exquisite patina with silken sheen.

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