A PEACOCK-BLUE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE GLASSWORKS, QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

the transparent glass extensively crizzled, with a flat lip and a recessed, slightly convex foot surrounded by a protruding rounded footrim; the coral stopper with a vinyl collar

K.E. Yeung, Hong Kong, 1978.
Collection of Gerd Lester, 1986.

Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch at the Galleries of Sydney L. Moss, Ltd., Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1987, cat. no. 79.
Creditanstalt, Vienna, 1993.

Gerd Lester, 'Artistry in a Bottle', Antiques World, September 1980, p. 67.
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. 688.

There is some typical crizzling from age on the interior within the glass material. Otherwise the snuff bottle is in good condition. The blue is slightly deeper 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."

Since crizzled glass was a standard feature of Imperial production in its early phase, it is likely that the present bottle is an Imperial product. It is also possibly an early Qing example.The crizzling is relatively light compared to some known very early glass from the Imperial Glassworks, and also free from the associated problem of sweating. The crizzling here is also spread evenly over both interior and exterior surfaces, not often the case with snuff bottles, where sometimes the inner surface alone seems to be affected. Apart from the warm glow imparted by the knowledge that we have here a plain glass bottle that may be dated to the earlier part of glass production with reasonable confidence, we can tentatively establish certain details as denoting Imperial style for this period. Furthermore, glass bottles featuring a recessed convex foot, as seen here, are likely to form part of early glass production. The compressed spherical form, together with the flared neck, flat lip, and neatly carved, rounded, oval footrim may all be noted as probable early features of the Imperial Glassworks.