- 78
AN ARAGONITE 'ELEPHANT'S HEAD' SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG / JIAQING PERIOD
Estimate
180,000 - 200,000 HKD
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Description
- aragonite
Provenance
Ko Collection, acquired in Beijing, 1924.
Christie’s London, 14th June 1971, lot 78.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.
Reif Collection.
Christie’s New York, 18th October 1993, lot 9.
Christie’s London, 14th June 1971, lot 78.
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.
Reif Collection.
Christie’s New York, 18th October 1993, lot 9.
Exhibited
Snuff Bottles of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1978, cat. no. 126.
Très précieuses tabatières chinoises: Collection rassemblée par Maître Viviane Jutheau, L’Arcade Chaumet, Paris, 1982, cat. no. 220.
Très précieuses tabatières chinoises: Collection rassemblée par Maître Viviane Jutheau, L’Arcade Chaumet, Paris, 1982, cat. no. 220.
Literature
Hugh Moss, ‘The Kleiner Family Collection’, Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, June 1977, p. 7, no. 9.
Hugh Moss, ed., Chinese Snuff Bottles, no. 1, London, 1964, p. 22, fig. 4.
Viviane Jutheau, Guide du collectionneur de tabatières chinoises, Paris, 1980, p. 109.
Robert Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles: The White Wings Collection, Hong Kong, 1997, cat. no. 139.
Hugh Moss, ed., Chinese Snuff Bottles, no. 1, London, 1964, p. 22, fig. 4.
Viviane Jutheau, Guide du collectionneur de tabatières chinoises, Paris, 1980, p. 109.
Robert Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles: The White Wings Collection, Hong Kong, 1997, cat. no. 139.
Condition
The bottle has some surface scratches and abrasions from use, practically invisible to the naked eye. Otherwise the overall condition is very good.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The imperial connection here is provided by the subject matter. Elephants were a common imperial subject and unusual on non-imperial wares of the eighteenth or early-nineteenth century. Works of art with elephants or elephant heads depicted or in the form of elephants, were among the more common objects found in imperial residences.
The formalised chrysanthemum flower was also a standard imperial stopper, suggesting this one may be the original.