清乾隆 粉彩「百子圖」鼻煙壺 《乾隆年製》款

with a flat lip, slightly convex rectangular foot, and slightly recessed convex panels on each main side, painted with a design of one hundred boys playing in a garden setting, divided into scenes with fifty on each main side, some making music, some holding various symbolic objects, one lighting fireworks, others holding lanterns or models of animals above their heads (one, a Buddhist lion as the child performs the Lion Dance with a friend holding the related brocade ball), the panels surrounded by a formalized scrolling floral design in iron-red, the foot inscribed with the four-character reign mark in iron-red enamel, the lip painted gold; the coral stopper carved with a coiled chilong

Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd，1993年

Hugh Moss、Victor Graham 及曾嘉寶，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，卷6，香港，2007年，編號1179

There is a small chip to the outer lip and the gilding on the lip is worn; otherwise the snuff bottle is in overall 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."

The bottle can be dated confidently to the last decade or two of the eighteenth century. Its radically flattened form with widely flared neck is standard from the late-Qianlong into the Jiaqing period; moreover, the 'hundred boys' subject matter appeared regularly on imperial ceramics from the late eighteenth century.