A RUBY-RED OVERLAY WHITE GLASS MASK-HANDLED SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG / JIAQING PERIOD

Collection of Gertrude Stuart.
Collection of Elisabeth and Ladisles Kardos.
Sotheby’s New York, 1st July 1985, lot 66.

Chinese Snuff Bottles. An Exhibition from British Columbia Collectors, Vancouver Centennial Museum, Vancouver, 1977.

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. 907.

A few surface scratches from wear and two small discolored split lines in the lip. Otherwise, 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 simplicity of the design of this bottle, confined to a predictable form, with the contrasting colour defining only a foot rim and two mask-and-ring handles, renders it difficult to place or date. A Yangzhou attribution has superficial appeal, but the handles are of courtly style rather than typical of Yangzhou. The reliance on the old default setting for anything early and of quality is sensible here, and that it may be an imperial product, dating from the mid- to late-Qianlong period.

Simple as it is, the bottle is faultlessly made, of perfect formal integrity, and extremely elegant.