IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1770-1830

Details

A RARE BLUE GLASS ELEPHANT-FORM SNUFF BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1770-1830
The bottle is carved as a caparisoned elephant shown with its head turned beneath a ruyi-lappet band at the neck.
2 ¼ in. (5.7 cm.) high, hardstone stopper

Provenance

Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong, 2011.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 5181.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Lot Essay

Caparisoned elephants were a popular Qing imperial motif; the elephant carrying a vase provides the homonym for "peace and prosperity." Snuff bottles carved with this motif are usually found in nephrite. Glass examples of the type are generally yellow. It is very rare to find this elephant motif in cobalt-blue-tone glass.

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