清十八世紀 仿雄黃套紅料淺浮雕「伏虎羅漢」圖小瓶

of pear shape, the rounded sides rising from an oval foot to a tall waisted neck, each side carved as a single overlay on an opaque molten orange and ochre ground swirled together resembling the realgar mineral, the scarlet surface colour used as a partial cameo, one side with a lohan seated near a fuming incense burner, the smoke rising containing a pearl, the other side with a tiger writhing towards the base, its eye made from a single black spot, the mouthrim and footrim encircled by scarlet overlay

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."

Although of small snuff bottle size, the flared neck of this piece suggests that it was made as a miniature vase rather than a snuff bottle. Miniature artefacts of this type belong to a special group of objects produced for the emperor who was an enthusiastic collector of curios and miniatures stored in treasure boxes known as duobaoge. The contents of these treasure boxes covered the entire range of imperial collection, from jades and bronzes of all ages, to pieces made in the rare realgar glass, as in the present example.

For examples of realgar glass vessels see a hexafoil vase, from the Sir Hans Sloane Collection in R. Soame Jenyns and William Watson, Chinese Art. The Minor Arts, II, London, 1965, pl. 81, together with a snuff bottle, pl. 201f. The Sloane collection also contains two realgar glass cups and a bowl. Further examples of glass snuff bottles are published in Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of the Rt. Hon. The Marquess of Exeter K.C.M.G., London, 1974, pl. G11; and a bottle attributed to the Palace Workshop, the body suffused with patches of bright red and yellow, is included in Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Burghley House Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 5.