A DENDRITIC CHALCEDONY ‘HEHE ERXIAN’ SNUFF BOTTLE OFFICIAL SCHOOL, MID-18TH / MID-19TH CENTURY

well hollowed, with a concave lip and a recessed flat foot surrounded by a protruding flat footrim, the natural markings in the stone edited on one side to create a scene of the two immortals known as the Hehe erxian dancing among lotus plants, one holding a box from which emerges a cloud of vapour; the lapis-lazuli stopper with a silver collar; together with a watercolour illustration by Peter Stuart

Collection of Gerd Lester.

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. 162.
Creditanstalt, Vienna, 1993.

Julia Wilkinson, 'Bottled Treasures. George and Mary Bloch introduce the diverse and miniature world of the Chinese Snuff Bottle', The Illustrated London News, Summer 1990, p. 48. Reprinted in The Orient Express Magazine, vol. 7, no. 2, 1990, p. 48, and Prestige, Summer 1990, p. 48.
Hugh Moss, 'Ink Play' Agates', Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Autumn 1997, p. 8.
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. 288.

The overall condition is very good except for a few tiny nibbles to the outer footrim (max 0.2 cm). The stone has some natural dark brown patches. The actual colour of the inclusions is darker and the ground is of a deeper greyish hue 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."

The present bottle is one of the more powerful silhouette bottles of the Official School, where superb clarity of design is matched by artistic imagination and where a great deal of the scene is edited by cutting through and removing parts of a very thin plane of darker colour. The treatment of the faces here again links it to the broad group of figural bottles, as represented by another bottle from the Bloch collection sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28th May 2010, lot 49, but is unusually animated and whimsical, giving the deities delightful personalities.