A RUBY-RED OVERLAY CLEAR GLASS ‘CHILONG’ SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG / JIAQING PERIOD

of transparent ruby-red and colourless glass, with a few scattered, small air bubbles, with a flat lip and deeply recessed flat foot surrounded by a protruding flat footrim, carved as a single overlay with an identical chilong design on each main side, each with a long, curled, elephantine nose; the chalcedony stopper with a silver collar

Robert Hall, London, 1992.

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. 886.

The snuff bottle is in very good condition. The overlay is of a slightly deeper ruby tone 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."

It is believed that a crystal-clear colourless ground for cameo overlays may have become more fashionable during the mid-Qianlong period and thereafter. Enamelling on colourless glass was particularly fashionable during the mid-Qing period, with few examples dated to much before the mid-1760s, and it is possible that a parallel may exist in overlay-glass production. The slightly careless matching of the overlay colour to the footrim, where the red runs out a millimetre before reaching the base of the bottle, may be yet another indication of a mid-Qing date.