A DENDRITIC QUARTZ SNUFF BOTTLE POSSIBLY IMPERIAL, QING DYNASTY, MID-18TH / MID-19TH CENTURY

well hollowed, with a concave lip and a recessed flat foot surrounded by a protruding, rounded footrim, carved with mask-and-ring handles; the stained bone stopper with a silver collar

Ralph M. Chait Galleries Inc., 1967.
Collection of Margaret Prescott Wise.
Collection of Edgar and Roberta Wise, 1995.
Robert Kleiner, London, 1996.

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. 206.

There are some lines in the original quartz material running all through the stone cross the lip which appear to be cracks, but are not. Otherwise the snuff bottle is overall in good condition. The actual colours of the stone are deeper, the red areas less orange et the brown section more dark 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 material of the present quartz bottle comprises a fairly large, irregular area of crystal, surrounded by jasper-agate, areas of solid and dendritic jasper, as well as dendritic chalcedony, or moss agate.

The bottle also has one of features found on many of the finest glass snuff bottles attributable to the court: the foot itself is completely flat and exquisitely finished right up to the point where it meets the vertical of the footrim. This, combined with the overall quality of production, hollowing and formal integrity, suggests that the present bottle was a product of the Imperial workshops.