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

Collection of Gerd Lester, 1986. 

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. 676.

There are two chips to the inner lip and one partially polished to the outer lip. There are also tiny surface scratches. The snuff bottle is otherwise 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 bottle is likely to be imperial. While the wide mouth and widely flared neck are distinctive, with so little concrete evidence regarding what constitutes the early undecorated-glass production of the imperial glassworks, such formal clues are none too illuminating. However, the form of this example is typical of the Yongzheng or Qianlong periods, which seem to be the most likely period of manufacture.

As with lot 109 in this sale, the detailing of the mouth and foot are excellent, and the formal integrity of the outside is impeccable.