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Lot Essay
This bottle would appear to belong to the group of superbly hollowed chalcedony snuff bottles attributed to the Palace Workshops. Other bottles from this group include lot 71 in this sale and another bottle from the J & J Collection illustrated by Moss et. al., The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, vol. 1, no. 165, which was subsequently sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 25 April 2004, lot 836. These bottles are characterized by the use of outstanding semi-transparent material, high-quality low-relief carving and archaistic designs, as seen here in the mask-and-ring handles flanking the shoulders. Such handles were derived from ancient bronzes, many of which were in the Imperial Collection. The keen interest of the Qing Emperors in this collection encouraged the use of mask-and-ring handles as standard motifs on a wide range of vessels. The varied meiping form was also common at the Court from the Qianlong period.
Banded agate bottles were a popular staple of courtly circles as they represent the 'jade belt' of high rank and a subtle wish for the recipient to attain high honors. For two banded agate bottles still in the Imperial Collection, see Chang Lin-Sheng, Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, p. 245, nos. 359 and 360.
Banded agate bottles were a popular staple of courtly circles as they represent the 'jade belt' of high rank and a subtle wish for the recipient to attain high honors. For two banded agate bottles still in the Imperial Collection, see Chang Lin-Sheng, Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, p. 245, nos. 359 and 360.