A Ruby-Red Overlay White Glass ‘Chilong’ Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

Hugh M. Moss Ltd., Hong Kong, 1992.

Moss et al., 1996-2009, vol. 5, no. 885.

It is in 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."

This and Sale 6, lot 182 are both small bottles, but they are linked to a greater extent by material and subject matter than style. Here the beasts, while of no great size, are extremely well composed and carved; indeed the only hint of a descent from the standards of the finest Qianlong workmanship is discernible in the slightly less-than-perfect ground plane, which undulates slightly, displaying traces of the carving tools. Without being certain of where bottles were made, one is of reading too much into a single feature such as this, but it does appear to indicate a slight lowering of standards. It has been proposed that this decline began during the second half of the Qianlong period in a variety of palace arts, although not necessarily in the lapidary workshop, which retained its vitality after 1760 by virtue of the massive influx of raw material from the area that would eventually be given a new administrative status as Xinjiang province, and a concomitant renewal of enthusiasm for hardstone carving at court. The most likely date for this bottle is, again, the latter part of the eighteenth century, but an early nineteenth century date is also possible. Colour, style and subject matter, of course, suggest a provenance in the imperial glassworks, given the usual provisos.