A ‘REALGAR' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, LATE 17TH / MID-18TH CENTURY

the opaque, variegated scarlet, yellow, and green glass with extensive surface crizzling, with a flat lip and a recessed, slightly convex foot surrounded by a protruding flat footrim; the jadeite stopper with a glass stopper

Collection of Arthur Gadsby.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2nd May 1991, lot 41.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 5, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 705.

Genrally the condition is quite good. The bottle has some nibbles, especially to the mouth and foot. The mouth also has a short horizontal hairline (about 1 cm). There are also some minor scratches and tiny surface flakes. The actual colours are a little bit softer compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Some realgar-glass is streaked with green, a colour added to the mixture and possibly derived from copper. However, the green typified here is a product of decomposition of the surface regardless of the extent to which there may have been green colouring in the original glass mix. This bottle may also have been buried at some time.  

Although of a less-standard form, the vertical lines of paler colour up the narrow sides prove that this was blown into a mould. A yellow glass bottle similarly severely degraded at the surface, with a Qianlong reign mark, is to be found in the Rietberg Museum, Chinese Snuff Bottles. Masterpieces from the Rietberg Museum Zurich, Rietberg Museum Zurich, 1993, cat. no. 23.