A CRYSTAL ‘BAT’ SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY

in the form of a compressed hu with a raised bead around the shoulders and simulated ring handles suspended from loops, with a flat lip chamfered on its inner rim and a protruding flat foot, carved in low relief with two bats, one on each main side; the jadeite collar with a vinyl collar

Belfort Collection.

L’Arcade Chaumet, Paris, 1982.

Viviane Jutheau, Guide du collectionneur de tabatières chinoises, Paris, 1980, p. 111, fig 2.
Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 2, Hong Kong, 1998, no. 236.

There are two tiny chips to the outer lip and one very minute nick to the outer footrim, otherwise the snuff bottle is in very good condition.
"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."

The formal inspiration of the present botlte is derived from an ancient bronze hu. Originally a wine storage vessel, the huevolved throughout the bronze age of China and was carried over into the later ceramic tradition as a standard form.

In this version, the original form has been amusingly manipulated so that the loop handles holding loose rings are offset on each main side instead of being shown one on each narrow side. Asymmetrical handles were not a standard feature of ancient bronzes or ceramics. This asymmetrical placing is then balanced by the detail of a low-relief bat on each main side. The bats serve to balance the offset handles but their other role is made clear by the fact that on one side the bat is not ideally placed to balance the handle, because it has been put over a prominent flaw in the slightly brown crystal in order to render an otherwise negative element in the material positive.