A RUBY-RED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Robert Kleiner, London, 1991. 

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. 680.

The overall condition is very good. There is an original flaw to the neck.
"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."

Ruby-red glass can vary considerably in colour and intensity. This example is towards the paler end of the emphatically ruby-red range. It is also unusually free of bubbles, flaws, or swirling in the colour.

It represents one of the simpler forms that were produced since the beginning of glass snuff-bottle manufacture, with its compressed pear shape and straight neck. It also has the interior bubble slightly at odds with the formally impeccable exterior profile, as is seen in lot 31 of this sale. It offers another example of the rare concave foot, but in this case one almost imperceptibly concave which, unlike Sale 4, lot 113, would almost qualify as a flat foot.

Like Sale 8, lot 1018, this bottle is impeccably finished, with a well formed and carefully detailed foot rim and lip.