A TURQUOISE-BLUE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY

Robert Hall, London, 1984. 

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. 741.

The overall condition is excellent.
"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 example is, from a technical perspective, akin to an uncarved overlay. A bird’s-eye view reveals an outer, more transparent layer over an inner, milkier version of a similar colour, although the inner layer seems to fade out towards the centre of the form.

Although this is definitely a hardstone form, which might have been made by a carver of hardstone bottles, the concentric ring round the mouth proves it was blown. This conclusion is supported by the bubble-shaped interior, which the lapidary has made no attempt to match with his more symmetrical, formally perfect exterior shape.

Of a rare and an extremely attractive colour, this bottle is formally impeccable (allowing for the artistic choice by which the glassblower’s bubble of air is not matched to the lapidary-finished exterior form), with a fine, wide mouth and as confidently carved a foot rim as could be desired.