A JASPER MINIATURE SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, MID-18TH / 19TH CENTURY

well hollowed, with a flat lip and a flat foot; the carnelian stopper with a vinyl collar

Robert Kleiner, London, 1991.

Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, The British Museum, London, 1995, cat. no. 283.
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1997.

 

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. 204.

There are some minor surface scratches and tiny nibbles, including a couple to the outer mouthrim, but otherwise the snuff bottle is in overall very good condition. The actual colours of the bottle are deeper, the brown areas more greenish 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."

Jasper was a popular material for snuff bottles, although like so many stones popular with Qing snuff-bottle makers, its occurrence in earlier times and in other objects is extremely rare. It was widely used for plain snuff bottles, providing an infinite variety of patterns and a wide range of possible colours and combinations of colours. The brilliant, variegated markings in jasper provided a wealth of potential for  abstract markings capable of transformation through imagination into a variety of subjects. This example is one of the most spectacular in terms of colour combination and markings; see also another example from the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28th May 2010, lot 33.