A WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, LATE 17TH – 19TH CENTURY

very well hollowed, with a recessed circular foot, the mottled and striated stone of a fine white tone; the jadeite stopper carved with three comet-shaped designs swirling around each other, with an integral collar

Collection of Edward T. Chow.
Christie’s, Hong Kong, 1st / 2nd October 1991, lot 1122.
Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., 1992.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 1, Hong Kong, 1996, no. 163.

The snuff bottle is in very good condition. The lip and footrim are in good condition. The actual colour of the white jade is somewhat warmer 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."

Apart from the delightful mottled and striated material, which is translucent and, indeed, almost transparent in places, the main appeal of this undecorated bottle lies in its form. The elongated ovoid body of cylindrical shape, tapering downwards toward the foot and upwards toward the neck, is of a unique and immensely satisfying form. When the bottle is seen standing, the recessing of the foot suggests that it has no footrim, which allows the ovoid form to sit very firmly on the ground with great stability and presence. One only has to imagine it sitting on a conventional footrim to see what a change this would make in the overall presence and personality of the bottle. The solid stance of the body is superbly offset by the elegance of the flared neck, which lightens the entire effect and manages to combine a sense of solid strength with elegance and grace. 

A bottle of this sort, without decoration from which to derive a sense of regional or period style, could have been made at any of a number of places around the empire over a very considerable period of time. Under high magnification, the surface of this bottle is naturally worn, with a series of totally random, non-mechanical and logical markings suggesting a considerable period of use. The chances are, therefore, that it dates from the mid-Qing period, from perhaps the mid-Qianlong period until the end of the Daoguang period, but it could be much earlier or even a little later.