AN INSIDE-INSCRIBED CRYSTAL 'GOURD AND VINE' SNUFF BOTTLE YIRU JUSHI, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Collection of James Gleeson and Frank O’Keefe.
Sotheby’s London, 6th June 1980, lot 202.
Collection of Ann Kreuger.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd., 1990.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 4, Hong Kong, 2000, no. 447.

Bottle: Minor chip to the inner lip. Numerous natural flaws and then scratches from wear. The carving has small chips on the edges of the vine leaves, the branches and the gourd. Below the tip of the lowest leaf is an area of possible damage that looks to be smoothed out? Painting: the inscription somewhat faded all over, perhaps from having been washed at some point. Not 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 inscription between the Yiru jushi and Zhongchang signatures is also found on Sale 1, lot 68 and Sale 6, lot 183:

比玉喜無疵，疑冰倍有姿，箇中天自別，世外味堪思

Compare it to jade: happily, it has no flaws.
Liken it to ice: it has even more charms.
Within it, the universe is different:
Beyond the world, a flavour to be longed for. 

The next inscription (as one rotates the bottle to the right) reads

如此心思，是何目力，巧極明主……

Such thought went into this,
Such strength of sight!
Clever….

This is a fragment from a lyric that was recorded on Sale 7, lot 11.