清十八 / 十九世紀 紫金朱紅攪料鋪首耳鼻煙壺

Hugh Moss、Victor Graham 及曾嘉寶，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，卷5，香港，2002年，編號775

Small blemish to the left of one of the ring handles. Otherwise, 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 definitely blown, as proven by the concentricity of the swirling pattern around the mouth. In common with Sale 1, lot 72, the only areas of glass to appear translucent are those where the mask-and-ring handles have been cut into the existing thickness of wall, rendering it sufficiently thin to transmit a small amount of light.

The rings of the handles are elongated, as they were on Sale 2, lot 7, although not to the same extent, and the beast’s heads are similarly eccentric. While we agree that Kleiner’s attribution of this bottle to the imperial glassworks is likely, we would date this example, together with Sale 2, lot 7 and for similar reasons, as mid-Qing rather than any earlier.