A BLACK JADE SNUFF BOTTLE

very well hollowed, of flattened square form with rounded corners, sloping to a cylindrical neck, resting on a carved oval foot, the stone well polished, the white inclusion on one face deeply carved with an eagle proudly perched on a rock, with one talon raised, the reverse plain save for low relief carving of mist

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28th April 1993, lot 554.

In very good condition overall with a tiny bruise on the footrim.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The contrast of the white bird set against the even dark ground creates a dramatic effect that successfully captures the bird's grace and pride. In fact, the Chinese word for eagle (ying) is a homonym for 'hero' and the depiction of an eagle on a rock is symbolic of a warrior ready for battle. Moreover, an eagle perched on one leg forms the rebus 'A great man towers over his peers'.

Snuff bottles in various media have portrayed the eagle in this light. A carved white glass example, painted with an eagle on a rock beneath a pine tree, formerly in The J & J Collection, was sold in these rooms, 15th September 1998, lot 15 and again at Christie's New York, 15th September 2009, lot 190. Another black jade example, but with a white and russet inclusion carved as the eagle, is illustrated in John Gilmore Ford, Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Edward Choate O'Dell Collection, Baltimore, 1982, no. 1.