Lot 171, Auction 4/3/2026: Four 18th C. Chinese Qing Stone & Glass Snuff Bottles

$1,690.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Qing Dynasty, 18th to 19th century CE. A compact survey of Qing ingenuity and taste, this group of four snuff bottles captures the playful intellect and tactile pleasure that made these objects irresistible companions of the scholar and courtier alike. Ranging from sober mineral elegance to lighthearted figural whimsy, the lot reflects the remarkable breadth of materials and symbolic language embraced by snuff bottle makers during the late imperial period. The largest bottle is carved from deep black obsidian, its smoothly rounded form polished to a mirror-like sheen that rewards the hand as much as the eye. It is fitted with a brass collar and capped with a warm carnelian finial, a pairing that balances austerity with a flash of auspicious color. Size of largest (obsidian): 2.6″ W x 3.5″ H (6.6 cm x 8.9 cm)

Next is a periwinkle-hued agate example, notable for its sea green-colored carved cameo relief depicting a figure holding a basket, a motif suggestive of abundance, labor, or the rhythms of daily life. In the lower right corner, a Chinese character provides a subtle textual counterpoint, while a silvered copper cap completes the composition with restrained refinement.

Another bottle is carved from fossiliferous limestone, its surface animated by pale circular inclusions that record ancient marine life, transformed here into a naturally patterned field. The softly squared form and organic spotting give the bottle a quiet, almost geological poetry that contrasts with the more overt symbolism of its companions. Completing the group is a glass bottle molded in the form of a goldfish. Rendered in glowing shades of orange, the fish form alludes to abundance and prosperity, as the word for fish, yu, is a homophone for surplus in Chinese culture. Its lively modeling and translucence lend a note of humor and charm to the ensemble.

Together, these four bottles offer a concise yet richly varied portrait of Qing snuff bottle production, where precious and humble materials, symbolism and sensation, seriousness and delight coexist in objects meant to be held close, admired, and quietly enjoyed.

A similar fossiliferous limestone snuff bottle hammered $6,875 (now equivalent to $10,685.75) at Christie’s New York on September 19, 2007 (Live Auction 1934, lot 622).

Condition: Fish and fossiliferous bottles are missing lids. Quartz bottle is missing top of lid; obsidian bottle is completely intact. Chip to proper right pectoral fin of goldfish. Some light surface wear and patina throughout, but, otherwise, all present excellently with nice detail and smooth stone surfaces.

Provenance: private Rogers, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Bosio collection, Miami, Florida, USA, 1960-2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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