清 / 民國 葫蘆袖珍鼻煙壺

Hugh Moss、Victor Graham 及曾嘉寶，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，卷7，香港，2009年，編號1496

Minute chip from the lip.
"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."

Shaking this bottle produces a rattling sound. Although one is unable to see what lies in the lower bulb, something is there, and one can only imagine it is the dried seeds of the gourd that were too large to remove through the very narrow waist. These might have proven quite handy in use, since they might have helped to keep the snuff in the lower bulb loose and more easily tipped into the upper gourd for access. In truth, it is somewhat doubtful to what extent a bottle of this sort was practical. Regardless of its suitability for containing snuff according to the rarefied connoisseurship of Chinese snuff takers, who held very firm views on appropriate materials for containing snuff and maintaining it at peak condition, the lower bulb is difficult of access and the upper one is barely capacious enough for a single morning’s snuffing. Such bottles were probably usable but may have been intended as a curiosity as much as a snuff container.